Bergson was elected mayor of Duluth in 2003, taking a two-way race with 57 percent of the vote over local businessman Charlie Bell.

In December 2005, Bergson pleaded no contest to a drunk driving charge after crashing a vehicle into a bridge near Spooner, Wisconsin and suffering a concussion and other injuries.

At a Duluth City Hall news conference several days later, Bergson said, "I have no desire to drink alcohol.

[3] In February 2018, Bergson was arrested after crashing his car into a tree in Douglas County, Wisconsin and leaving the scene.

He was charged with obstructing an officer and failure to install an ignition interlock device, which is related to previous convictions for driving under the influence.