North Dakota State Representative District 1 Choose 2
The North Dakota State House consists of 94 representatives, who meet in regular legislative sessions to make our state laws and set our state budget. Learn more at ndlegis.gov.
Biographical Information
Website
http://dist1ndgop.org
Campaign Email
garbel4house@gmail.com
Facebook
http://facebook.com/NDGOPdistrict1
What are your top priorities?
As a freshman legislator, my primary goal would be to educate myself on the critical issues for the upcoming legislative session. My focus will be on creating sound policy and making responsible budgetary decisions.
Some of those issues include behavioral health resources along with rural healthcare needs, drought relief and infrastructure including water management, and comprehensive energy policies.
How would you ensure that North Dakotans’ healthcare costs are affordable?
The legislature will continue to guide how the Rural Health Transformation Program funding is allocated over its five-year award period. Investing these dollars wisely will help make healthcare more affordable for our rural communities. In addition, continuing to evaluate the role Medicaid plays in our state and leveraging the federal dollars available will help our urban areas as well.
How would you address the housing needs of the state?
Communities run into issues utilizing federal and state programs geared towards affordable housing due to current income guidelines and the eligibility population threshold. As a result, cities and counties around the state have gotten creative with how they utilize their budgets to offer incentives to builders and assistance to buyers. The 3% cap on their budgets may hinder these efforts and will no doubt be part of the discussion at the next session.
What is your position on allowing public funds to be directed to non-public education?
Senate Bill 2241 authorized public charter schools in North Dakota providing new educational options in the future. If passed, the universal free school lunch measure will save families approximately $1,000 per student per year. Private, tribal, and nonpublic schools will be allowed to opt-in. Based on these opportunities for all families, my position would be to not direct public funds to non-public education.
What are your views on the current voting methods and access to voting in North Dakota?
North Dakota is the only state without voter registration. We offer absentee voting by mail, early and election day voting in-person. The current voting methods give our residents easy access to make their voice heard. A better question would be how do we engage and encourage voter participation.
What is the role of the federal government regarding states’ rights, and are there currently any areas where you believe there is an imbalance?
Conservative Republican values include the belief that the federal government's powers should be strictly limited, with more of the decision making authority left to the states and local communities. The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana is an example of major conflict of laws. The Founding Fathers could never have foreseen how complex these types of issues would become, though they did their best to protect the states' rights through the 10th Amendment.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
alexatmidwestmetaphysics@gmail.com
Campaign Phone Number
7016094803
What are your top priorities?
My top priorities are focused on what actually impacts people’s lives like bringing people together, strengthening our communities through infrastructure and growth, supporting working families, improving access to practical healthcare, investing in education and workforce development, and protecting our land to keep North Dakota Legendary for future generations. At the end of the day, it’s about putting people first and doing the work that helps, not harms.
How would you ensure that North Dakotans’ healthcare costs are affordable?
I would work to keep hospitals, clinics, emergency care, telehealth, mobile clinics, and rural emergency hospitals funded so people are not forced to drive hours for basic care. Costs rise when there is not enough staffing for these institutions.
How would you address the housing needs of the state?
Housing is a basic need, and in North Dakota we solve it by focusing on what actually works, which is building more and removing the barriers that get in the way. We need to increase housing supply across the board. That means focusing on basic infrastructure such as roads, water, and even utilities. Then, making housing more affordable for renters and buyers by creating rental stability and home-buying incentives if possible.
What is your position on allowing public funds to be directed to non-public education?
Public education is the foundation of our communities, and it needs to be fully funded and supported first. When we start pulling large amounts of public money into private institutions, we risk weakening the system that serves the majority of North Dakota families
What are your views on the current voting methods and access to voting in North Dakota?
I think North Dakota actually gets a lot right when it comes to voting. The fact that we don’t require voter registration removes a major barrier and makes it easier for people to show up and participate. At the same time, requiring ID helps maintain confidence in the system.
What is the role of the federal government regarding states’ rights, and are there currently any areas where you believe there is an imbalance?
The federal government should set the foundation by protecting basic rights and ensuring fairness, while states have the flexibility to serve their unique communities. What works in North Dakota doesn’t always work elsewhere. The imbalance happens when the federal government fails to meet the needs of everyday people and states either can’t or don’t step in, leaving people behind.
Biographical Information
Website
http://www.dist1ndgop.org/
What are your top priorities?
Tax Relief
Adequate k12 and Higher Education funding
Affordable Housing and Day Care
County and Township Infrastructure funding
How would you ensure that North Dakotans’ healthcare costs are affordable?
There is a significant shortage of health care providers, we are working on programs to attract more students into the field and provide tuition assistance. We need to continue to look for and implement efficiencies in HHS. We also need to continue to adequately fund ND Medicaid Expansion
How would you address the housing needs of the state?
Reduce the red tape, provide low interest loans to developers, assist local political subs in providing infrastructure.
What is your position on allowing public funds to be directed to non-public education?
I was a co-sponsor on a bill that created Education Savings Accounts for all students in ND. The bill listed a number of student services that would have been eligible for funding, However, I do not support State funding to cover tuition.
Federal funds are already available to non-public education if they chose to participate, Title programs,, Special Education, School Nutrition Program,
What are your views on the current voting methods and access to voting in North Dakota?
ND has the most secure voting system in the US.
What is the role of the federal government regarding states’ rights, and are there currently any areas where you believe there is an imbalance?
The federal government should guarantee and protect states rights. Federal regulations and the paper work associated with federal policies are burdensome in several areas like k-12 eduction and medical
Biographical Information
Endorsements
DEM-NPL
Website
http://demnpl.com/thoring4nd/
Campaign Email
sthoring51@gmail.com
Campaign Phone Number
6057866093
What are your top priorities?
Education: I believe every child deserves a quality education. I will work to ensure our school are properly funded, support our teachers, and expand career and technical education.
Healthcare: Access to healthcare is vital in rural North Dakota. I will fight to protect our local hospital and ensure emergency services are fully resourced so families can receive quality, and affordable care close to home.
How would you ensure that North Dakotans’ healthcare costs are affordable?
I will work tirelessly to ensure that the healthcare costs are affordable. I will try to pass legislation or support other representatives that are working to pass bills that lower cost for all North Dakotans for health care. I will listen to the residents of Williston to hear their needs and act accordingly.
How would you address the housing needs of the state?
I would support the Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) that is financed through voluntary contributions from individuals and corporations. The State of North Dakota could help the HIF by providing funding. I believe the working families of North Dakota need help to afford housing in our great state and we need to help anyway we can.
What is your position on allowing public funds to be directed to non-public education?
I believe the public schools are the only place public funds should be allowed to go. The private schools or non-public schools should not receive tax dollars for funding. With the federal government cuts that we have seen it is more important to make sure our public schools receive all the funding available to them.
What are your views on the current voting methods and access to voting in North Dakota?
The current voting methods with the absentee ballots that you can pick up or have mailed to you or being able to go to the polls to vote in person each play an important part in our voter turn outs.
What is the role of the federal government regarding states’ rights, and are there currently any areas where you believe there is an imbalance?
I believe that the states' rights belong to the state not the federal government. I believe that the federal government should not be allowed to restrict the students that attend our colleges and universities or the courses they teach. They are doing this by withholding government grants and funding until they have no choice but to accept their demands.