Longtime city commissioner Connie Sprynczynatyk will seek a fifth term in the June primary.

"I must have found my calling," Sprynczynatyk said in making her announcement. "I'm continually interested in the new challenges, it's never been the same plate though it's been served day after day. I've learned so many new things."

Sprynczynatyk has been executive director for the North Dakota League of Cities for the past decade. First elected to the city commission in 1990, Sprynczynatyk's portfolios include engineering, water, streets, forestry, Vision Fund, intergovernmental cooperation and city-county liaison committee.

Bismarck adopted homerule in 1990 and Sprynczynatyk said she believes it has served the city well. But how to better structure and deliver local services is a question that always comes up and, she believes, gives credibility to looking at consolidation of city and Burleigh County governments.

Another issue which is generating a lot of discussion in the community is the park district's People, Parks and Places initiative, which seeks a half-cent sales tax increase. Sprynczynatyk said community betterment packages have been used with success in the past and it's something that is coming back again for voters to decide.

"Part of the challenge to our city is we are facing a tremendous period of growth. We've been working toward this for years, and it didn't just happen yesterday," Sprynczynatyk said. "But we haven't yet figured everything out."

Sprynczynatyk has been working to involve residents of the the Cathedral Area Historic District in a project to improve the Washington Street corridor running through the neighborhood. Sprynczynatyk led similar processes involving the city's handling of solid waste and storm water management.

Sprynczynatyk currently serves on the National League of Cities board of directors, N.D. Insurance Reserve Fund board of directors, as director for Starion bank, on Leadership Bismarck-Mandan steering committee and as hospitality minister at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

She has been a Bismarck resident for 34 years, serving on the Bismarck Park Board for 12 years prior to becoming a city commissioner.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)