FARGO (AP Correspondent Dave Kolpack) - North Dakota's largest city is mourning the death of its three-term mayor and former city employee Dennis Walaker.
He was the face of several successful flood fights and a fierce promoter of a planned Red River diversion project that would end the almost yearly spring sandbagging efforts.
The 73-year-old Walaker died Tuesday in his home, about three months after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and five months after winning re-election.
Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney says Walaker never backed away from tough decisions and maintained his sense of humor through it all. Mahoney says he hopes people will carry on Walaker's vision to flood-proof Fargo.
City Engineer Mark Bittner says Walaker was an employee-centric leader who knew that workers "drove the city.''
Walaker was the city's longtime public works director.