Deputy Mayor Linda Coates
Voters elected Linda Coates to the Fargo City Commission in June 2004.
Educational background: Commissioner Coates received B.A., B.S. and M.S. degrees in music from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Professional background: In October 2007, Coates was hired by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra as its interim executive director; the group named her as its permanent executive director in February 2008. Coates and her husband, Mike, launched Raptor Recording Studios and Barking Dog Records, an independent recording studio and record label, in 1995. The Commissioner has also served as executive director of Lake Agassiz Arts Council and as a teacher at Minnesota State University Moorhead, the University of North Dakota and West Fargo High School.
Coates has served in leadership roles on several nonprofit boards.
Personal information: Coates was born in Jamestown, North Dakota and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1974. She and her husband have a daughter and a son.
You can reach Commissioner Coates by e-mail at lcoates@cityoffargo.com or by phone at (701) 241-1310