Jim Kapitan was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2020.  His portfolios include the Cass Human Service Zone, NDSU Extension, and Veteran Services.  Current committee assignments include the County Park Board, Road Advisory Committee, Personnel Overview Committee, Building Committee, Fargo Cass Board of Health, and the Cass Clay Food Commission. He currently serves as an alternate member of the Lake Agassiz Regional Council and Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Kapitan graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science in 1962 in Architectural Design and Construction Technology, and from North Dakota State University in 1987. He is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Emergency Management Institute and the Air War College. 

He worked for the City of Fargo for 42 years. He served as the Airport Manager for 18 years, the Principle Appraiser for the City Assessor's Office for 23 years, then as the Human Resource Director for 1 year. 

His military career ended after 38 years. He served as the 119th Disaster Preparedness Commander for 23 years and Commander of the 119th Security Police Squadron for 10 years. He transferred to the United States Air Force Reserve and served as the Disaster Preparedness Liaison Officer to the State of North Dakota for 5 years. He retired as Colonel in the USAF. 

Jim has received a number of recognitions over the years. The most recent being inducted into the North Dakota Hockey Hall of Fame. He has received several local and National Jaycee awards, including the James Black Award for Community Service from the Fargo Jaycees. He also received the North Dakota Distinguished Service Award and was named the Military Person of the Year from the Fargo Chamber. He was recognized as the Outstanding Security Forces Commander in the US Air National Guard and the US Air Force Reserve. He was also named one of the "Outstanding Young Men of America" and is listed in the "Who's who in the World of Aviation". 

His community service is endless, serving now as a Cass County Commissioner, a member of the NDSCS Alumni Foundation and the NDSCS Aviation Maintenance Advisory Board. He has served as president of several organizations in the community as well as serving as a Commissioner on the Fargo Park Board for eight years.