Summary
GOP Gov. Doug Burgum is seeking reelection after winning with 77 percent of the vote in 2016.
We rate the race for governor in North Dakota as Solid Republican.
Politico 4/19/20
OnAir Post: ND 2020 Governor Race
Doug Burgum
Current Position: Governor since 2016
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 Governor
Driven by a strong belief in North Dakota’s people and a powerful dream, he returned to his home state and helped lead Great Plains Software from a small startup company in 1983 into an award-winning tech firm that employed thousands of team members from more than 220 cities across North Dakota.
Burgum led Great Plains as CEO through its initial public offering in 1997 and acquisition by Microsoft Corp. in 2001. He remained at Microsoft as senior vice president through 2007, helping the company stake a leading position in the global business applications software industry.
For more information, go to Doug Burgum’s post.
Shelley Lenz
Current Position: Veterinarian, businesswoman, humanitarian
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 Governor
Over the past few weeks, we have all been learning about the importance of family, community, and having a government that works for all of us. We are running because we believe that it’s time for a new kind of leadership. Leadership that does not focus on the past or partisan ideology, but leadership that focuses on building bridges across the state, across the aisle, and across generations to make government work for all North Dakotans.
We believe by connecting with voters on the shared values of home grown prosperity – leading to investments in infrastructure, education, and health care; independence, community collaboration and the unique spirit of North Dakotans we can build a future where all of our communities thrive for generations to come.
For more information, go to Shelley Lenz’s post.
Issues
Governance
Doug Burgum
“Anything being done simply because ‘that’s the way we have always done it’ should be and must be rigorously and respectfully questioned. And no matter what, we must have the courage to admit that we can always do better.”
– Governor Doug Burgum
Four Elements of Reinvention
Unification/Shared Services | Delivery of Service | Digital Transformation | Cultural Transformation
We have an opportunity to reinvent state government and embrace technology to hold down costs and build an economy and workforce for the 21st century.
These powerful technological forces are fueling an underlying change in our economy and will challenge all of our existing approaches, systems and institutions. Harnessing these forces can lead to lower costs and better outcomes in health care, education and infrastructure. And these areas are some of the biggest cost drivers of our state budget. To do that we need a culture in state government focused on the willingness to grow and change and leaders who will lead us through that change.
Fulfilled the administration’s goal to use technology to boost transparency. The state Office of Management and Budget (OMB) completed a major upgrade to the transparency section of its website, creating a more user-friendly experience for citizens searching for budget data, vendor contracts, fund balances and other financial information about state government.
Fulfilled another pledge by taking several steps to improve the state’s revenue forecasting system, making it more accurate and ensuring taxpayer resources are being used most efficiently.
Continued to drive a “work as one” culture in state government through human resources unification and streamlining HR policies; more robust leadership training and team member development opportunities; and greater cross-agency and cross-branch collaboration through regular XCL (Extended Cabinet Leadership) and JEL (Judicial, Executive, Legislative) meetings.
Supported the K-20W “Every Student, Every Class, Cyber Educated” initiative, a multi-faceted, comprehensive approach to computer science and cybersecurity education and workforce training. North Dakota will be the first state in the nation with integrated cybersecurity and computer science K-12 standards.
Launched Vision Zero as the state’s primary traffic safety initiative with the state Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol and Department of Health. The goal of the comprehensive effort is to continually work toward zero motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.
Shelley Lenz
Efficient Government Working For All of Us
Our State Government must work for all North Dakotans, creating modern infrastructure and protecting our vital agricultural industry.
Democracy
Doug Burgum
N/A
Shelley Lenz
North Dakotans have a history of collaborating to decide how we want our state government to function – in 1914, the political movement of the Nonpartisan League (the NPL) formed to defend against outside interests and to help regular North Dakotans reclaim our democracy. We still have that drive and through collaborative decision-making and a clear vision for our state, we can achieve true Homegrown Prosperity as a vehicle for wider access to health care, better schools, and efficient infrastructure.
Economy
Doug Burgum
Main Street Initiative
“To create a 21st century economy, we need to build on three pillars of economic success: a skilled workforce; smart, efficient infrastructure; and healthy, vibrant communities. By reinventing education, we will create a skilled workforce that matches the high-paying jobs of today and tomorrow. Utilizing our current infrastructure to its fullest potential, we can reduce the cost of local government and create vibrant, healthy cities.”
– Governor Doug Burgum
Three Pillars Of Economic Success
A Skilled Workforce | Smart, Efficient Infrastructure | Healthy, Vibrant Communities
The Main Street Initiative will focus on utilizing existing infrastructure to its fullest potential to reduce costs and create vibrant, healthy cities. We will partner with city leaders from across the state to ensure they have the tools, programs and empowerment they need for smart, healthy growth.
The Main Street Initiative was built on a foundation of values: respect for the past, gratitude for the present, and inspiration for the future. By focusing our efforts on creating vibrant main streets with smart infrastructure, we will attract and retain a skilled workforce and realize our full potential as a state.
Progress Updates
Communities representing more than half a million North Dakotans are engaged in one or more of the Main Street Initiative’s three pillars, exploring what they can do to build healthy, vibrant communities with smart, efficient infrastructure to attract a 21st century workforce. Participation continues to grow, with more than 60 communities large and small engaged in the initiative.
Launched the national award-winning Main Street Community Dashboard as well as the Main Street Community Leaders Peer Network to share best practices and promote learning on MSI-related topics.
Received the Workforce Development Council’s recommendations for addressing our workforce shortage. Governor Burgum reestablished the Council and commissioned the report in 2017, and the report is the culmination of 11 months of intense work by Council members. The report lays out options to address North Dakota’s workforce development and shortage problems, including recommendations such as lowering barriers to unemployment and developing programs to help them earn gainful employment. The full report can be found here.
Expanded community development programs aimed at improving main streets, public facilities and services. More than $2.3 million in funds were made available for these programs with the aid of the North Dakota Department of Commerce. At least $500,000 will be used to support the Main Street Initiative by promoting livable communities, addressing unmet community development needs and promoting activities that enhance local economic development efforts. More information on the Governor’s Fund for community Development is available here.
Hosted, with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the first-ever Main Street ND Summit at the Bismarck Event Center, welcoming more than 650 community members, students and state team members. Attendees learned about strategies and resources to address the three pillars of the Main Street Initiative. A second Main Street ND Summit is planned for October 2019.
Shelley Lenz
Economic Diversification and Innovation
Support for Small Businesses and Startups: We support initiatives for the development of entrepreneurial small business in rural and urban areas across North Dakota. Creating North Dakota’s brand of homegrown prosperity with partnerships that lead to economic connections in coal and oil counties merging with our urban centers and back to our pastures. With local small business, each dollar multiplies within the community: $1 spent = $1.60 in the community because of the multiplier effect: you spend your dollar in the local business, we create jobs, we buy our local produce from farmers/ranchers, and when we are profitable we share/invest those profits back into our communities.
Investments in Research: Both basic and applied research must be prioritized for North Dakota to build its prosperity and prevent the brain-drain that happens when North Dakota does not value higher education and research. The importance of basic research and higher education for generational prosperity within a society can never be underestimated nor underfunded.
Development of Public-Private Partnerships: Championing public-private partnerships to provide innovative solutions to economic challenges. For example, the creation of a regional mid-size animal processing facility in North Dakota. This will provide food security, new revenue streams for North Dakota livestock producers, bring new business, enable branding of North Dakota meat, provide access to farm-to-table homegrown food, and increase higher education research opportunities and vocational trades. Development of public-private partnerships to promote the creation of energy generation and transmission to our homes and beyond. Connecting all energy generation of fossil fuels, wind, geo-therm, solar while decarbonizing our atmosphere, improving our environment and synergizing with higher education research opportunities and vocational trades.
See post for more info.
Education
Doug Burgum
“We can’t prepare our kids for the 21st century using a 19th-century model.”
– Governor Doug Burgum
Opportunities in Education
Innovation | Governance
With nearly all of the world’s information now available for free online, educators, parents, businesses, community organizations and legislators must all play a role in transforming the education system.
It’s not enough for students to do well on traditional measures. The challenge is how to equip them with the skills and mindsets they need to be creative problem solvers, effective communicators and informed, responsible citizens who are strong collaborators.
Received final reports from the governor’s Innovative Education Task Force and the Task Force for Higher Education Governance, outlining recommendations to ensure North Dakota’s education system is positioned to excel in the 21st century.
Hosted a statewide Hour of Code event, encouraging the development of computer science among North Dakota’s students. While the Hour of Code event has occurred annually since 2013, North Dakota’s participation in 2018 marked the first time that a state hosted a simultaneous Hour of Code between K-12 and higher-ed students across the state. More than 6,000 students participated at nearly 100 schools in North Dakota. The event was sponsored by the State of North Dakota, local education leaders and schools, and Microsoft.
Announced a 100-gigabit upgrade to the state network, placing North Dakota schools and government on the leading edge of internet connectivity and speed. This upgrade will be finished in 2019 and ensures that North Dakota will be the first state to achieve 1-gigabit connectivity in every school district. This increased connectivity will open avenues to innovation for every North Dakota school, enhancing educational methods and expanding opportunities for our students. The upgrade will represent anywhere from a two- to ten-times speed increase in capacity for K-12 schools.
Shelley Lenz
Funding for public education is a primary responsibility of the state government. We need to design our educational systems to fit the lives and goals of North Dakota families. State government needs to work with families across the state to make sure they have access to the tools, resources, and support that they need to allow students to succeed. Specifically, we support:
Fair compensation for educators and educational support professionals’ that is competitive at the regional and national levels
Safe schools: ensuring that educational institutions are safe places for educators, education support professionals, and students – including teaching and learning environments that are free from bullying and harassment
Non-traditional education: including vocational and technical programs, as well as support for ESL classes, educational opportunities, and job training for adult immigrants at all levels of education
Adequate funding for all of North Dakota’s public educational institutions
Pre-K Education: allowing local school districts to offer approved Pre-K public school programs, with state assistance and coordination, along with universal early childhood education and the expansion of Head Start
Funding for higher education: we support equitable treatment of all State Higher Education Institutions in the funding formula, providing additional funding for institutions of higher education
Healrh Care
Doug Burgum
“We need to start treating addiction like the chronic disease that it is. By moving resources upstream, we will save lives and save money.”
– Governor Doug Burgum
Continuum of Care
Prevention | Early Intervention | Treatment | Recovery
As drug addiction and overdoses take their toll on North Dakota families, the state must start treating addiction differently. Seventy-seven people died in North Dakota in 2016 from overdoses, and more than $260 million was spent in the past decade on new jails at the city, county and state levels.
Many of those in our system are there because of crimes rooted in addiction. Jail time without rehab is not a cure for addiction.
Created the Office of Recovery Reinvented through an executive order. This Office is tasked with promoting efforts to eliminate the shame and stigma surrounding addiction. Addiction destroys families and communities, affecting every area of life. North Dakota is taking responsibility and further methods to combat behavioral health issues across the state. The Office of Recovery Reinvented is a seven-member advisory committee, chaired by First Lady Kathryn Burgum, that is making a difference in the lives of many. More information is available at www.recoveryreinvented.com.
Launched the Youth Ending Stigma (YES) Challenge in partnership with the First Lady. The Challenge is designed to enable student-led initiatives and projects focused on eliminating social stigma surrounding behavioral health issues including addiction and mental health conditions.
Student projects will be led from March through April of 2019. More information can be found here.
Hosted the first-ever Peer Support Day at the Capitol. The event saw behavioral health advocates, peer support specialists, individuals who have received peer support services, behavioral health and health care providers, state and local decision-makers and other interested individuals come together to discuss the approach and benefits of peer support and the role that it plays in recovery.
In partnership with the Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division, we are pursuing key strategies as part of our Behavioral Health Initiative: supporting the full continuum of care, embedding services close to home and people’s natural supports to keep families together, and stop criminalizing behavioral health and divert criminal justice involvement.
Shelley Lenz
Access to Affordable, High Quality Health Care
We know that the affordability and access to high quality health care is a challenge faced by too many North Dakotans. We will prioritize:
The Affordable Care Act: Protecting access to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and benefits like medicaid expansion and pre-existing conditions, and work to stop the Attorney General’s lawsuit trying to dismantle North Dakotans’ access to the Federal ACA benefits.
Comprehensive Coverage: Working with the Legislature to prioritize access to holistic preventative health care including nutrition, mental health, dentistry, vision, physical rehabilitation, senior and geriatric care, especially for rural communities.
North Dakota Health Insurance Co-Op: Developing of a North Dakota Health Insurance Co-op as an option for all North Dakotans to be able to access health insurance and decrease health costs. We will work with the Insurance Commissioner’s Office to champion opening access to local and out-of-state licensed professional professionals increasing access to telemedicine health availability in the privacy of your own home.
Infrastructure
Doug Burgum
N/A
Shelley Lenz
Spearheading Innovations in Energy and Fuel Infrastructure
The North Dakota Energy Co-Op: Our vision is the North Dakota Energy Co-op which will not simply rely on extraction taxes for North Dakota Revenue but create new revenue sources and sustain North Dakota’s transition to the future. We will transform the ND energy system to stabilize jobs, increase revenue from ND resources and protect our land, air, and water. This investment will decrease our reliance on taxes from any one sector to neutralize the effect of unstable industrial economic cycles within our communities.
Connecting Energy Infrastructures: Connect the economies and infrastructure of North Dakota’s Oil/Gas/Coal, Wind, Solar, and Geo-therm with our environment, vocational trades, higher education, agriculture, and our communities. We will better protect North Dakota from outside forces affecting our towns and our way of life. Transforming all of North Dakota’s energy systems will benefit all of our state’s economies and our land. We will decarbonize electricity production, continue to provide base load electricity, and electrify our economy while giving our communities a bridge to the future.
Our Goals for the North Dakota Energy Co-Op Public-Private Partnership:
Create and maintain high-paying, stable jobs within our local communities
Prioritize ND’s energy industries and agriculture industry
Contribute to mid-century global climate goals for atmospheric CO2
Provide infrastructure to improved oil extraction and captured natural gas
Provide 21st Century Infrastructure
Roads and Bridge Funding: Support a significant increase in funding for transportation infrastructure, ensuring that the four corners of North Dakota are connected with safe highways to transport our goods and our people.
Water Infrastructure: Ensure access to clean, safe drinking water for all North Dakotans.
Restore the Postal Service: Support our Congressional delegation doing all it can to restore reliable and viable postal service, including Saturday delivery.
Tribal Relations
Doug Burgum
“I pledge my administration to a fresh start in our relations with all tribal nations who live with and among us. Our goal is to understand each tribe’s individual issues and circumstances so that we may move forward together.”
– Governor Doug Burgum
Focus Areas for Partnership
Engage | Listen | Learn
Through the course of meeting with tribal leadership from every Native American tribe headquartered in the state — the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation in New Town, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates and Spirit Lake Nation in St. Michael — we continue to identify areas of opportunity for government-to-government collaboration. The issues range from water rights, taxes, emergency management and law enforcement to addiction, infrastructure, historic sites and tourism.
Collectively strengthening our tribal communities across North Dakota will happen when we genuinely engage, listen and learn about each tribe’s individual challenges and opportunities.
Opened a first-of-its-kind conference on strengthening government-to-government partnerships between the State of North Dakota and tribal nations. Hosted by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, more than 300 people attended the historic two-day conference in January, including tribal leaders, elders and other members, dozens of leaders and staff from various state agencies, state legislators and federal partners.
Held a second strengthening government-to-government partnerships conference in December. Burgum joined Chairman Mark Fox of the MHA Nation in signing a memorandum of understanding under which the state will recognize motor vehicle license plates and registrations issued by the MHA Nation to its enrolled members residing within its jurisdictional boundaries.
Laid the groundwork for tax revenue-sharing legislation through the work of the interim Tribal Taxation Issues Committee, which Gov. Burgum chaired and on which Lt. Gov. Sanford also served.
Shelley Lenz
N/A
