During Chamber forum, Grand Forks legislative candidates disagree on North Dakota abortion ban

GRAND FORKS – During legislative forums Tuesday evening, Grand Forks candidates in Districts 42 and 18 disagreed on North Dakota’s abortion ban but did agree the Legislature needs to address property taxes.

The forum was sponsored by the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce and was moderated by Garth Rydland and Chamber CEO and President Barry Wilfahrt. The evening included one forum for District 42 House and Senate candidates and another for District 18 House and Senate candidates. Each forum included a similar set of questions about topics like the state’s abortion ban, ballot Measure 4 (regarding a proposal to end the state’s current property tax system) and legislation they would like to support.

Candidates in District 42

had the first forum and included Senate candidates Claire Cory, Republican; and Rodney Gigstad, Democrat; and House candidates Sarah Grossbauer, Democrat; Carol Hagen, Democrat; Emily O’Brien, Republican; and Doug Osowski, Republican.

Candidates in District 18

had the second forum and included Senate candidates Scott Meyer, Republican; and Kyle Thorson, Democrat; and House candidates Mary Adams, Democrat; Nels Christianson, Republican; Scott Nelson, Democrat; and Steve Vetter, Republican.

On abortion, all of the Democratic-NPL candidates were against the ban.

“I believe that the Legislature of North Dakota has no business in my doctor’s office or anyone else’s,” Grossbauer said. “How are we supposed to expect a 12-year-old who was raped to know that she was pregnant if she’s not menstruating? I think it was a slap in the face to every woman across this state.”

A judge recently

found the ban violates the state’s Constitution.

“I don’t believe in passing legislation that’s unconstitutional,” said Thorson. “We’re spending millions defending this bill in court along with many other constitutional bills that we passed before. My opinion is government should not be in these decisions.”

Most of the Republican candidates said that they are pro-life and for the ban, with the exception of O’Brien, who did not outright say she is against the ban.

“I’m not sure which specific bill that is being discussed. … In my own opinion I believe that it is between the individual and the doctor to have those conversations and make those decisions best for them,” O’Brien said.

Christianson said “I am unapologetically pro-life. The consensus pro-life statute passed by the Legislature protects the dignity of the life of the mother and the child.”

On Measure 4, which seeks to

eliminate the vast majority of property taxes in the state, many agreed the state needs to do something about rising taxes. Many are against the measure.

“Having just had some of our property north of Bismarck burned and having the fire department and the National Guard, it’s kind of a big thing for the first responders,” Hagen said. “We need to be able to have first responders and other resources, and Measure 4 would deflate or defeat a lot of those products.”

Other candidates said voters will make the right decision this November.

“I trust that voters will make the right decision for what they think is best for the state,” said Cory. “I support all forms of tax relief for District 42 residents, but I also encourage people to be informed on the measure before they go and vote.”

Osowski said the measure would provide a fix for the clear appetite for property tax reform.

“This would be the quickest way to release some financial burden on citizens that own homes and are subject to property taxes or unfair tax burdens,” said Osowski.

Meyer said that if reelected, property tax reform would be at the top of his agenda.

“I will be sitting at the table on property tax reform,” Meyer said. “I don’t want to start with the investment properties or centrally assessed things. No matter what, your Legislature will be working on this in 2025.”

If approved, the responsibility of paying property tax would no longer be on the property owner. Instead, the state would cover the current rate going forward, with local entities being responsible for any increases beyond the current rate. Adams and many of the other candidates at Tuesday’s forums noted that the plan has no set solution on where the funds — billions of dollars — will come from to pay for essential services.

“Whoever came forward with the (measure) said ‘Oh the Legislature will fix it’ but they can’t just fix it because property tax encompasses so many things,” Adams said. “Take away the tax, and then you’re going to get ‘fees’ because one way or the other, we have to pay for our infrastructure, our police department, our fire department; all those things that you don’t always use, but you’re glad that they’re there.”

On proposed legislation, many of the representatives that aren’t currently serving in office said they would focus on co-sponsoring legislation instead of crafting their own bills from scratch. But they did provide ideas of topics that the Legislature should tackle, like education funding or leave policy.

“We need to pass a school lunch bill so that kids can go to school and be able to concentrate on their studies (instead of being hungry), because that’s going to help everybody,” said Gigstad. “I think we need to explore a paid family leave bill (or) at least study the family leave situation.”

Tackling school meal funding and ensuring North Dakota students have access to nutritious food was a key issue for the Dem-NPL candidates.

“Any little thing we can do to help improve school performance will improve the society as a whole,” said Nelson. “We need to make sure we fortify our public schools, and by doing that, we start with the nutrition and the well-being of the students.”

More experienced candidates said that they don’t need the time to hit the ground running, unlike many of the less politically experienced candidates.

“Will you need on-the-job training with me? I’m ready to go, day one,” said Vetter. “I have a history of passing bills, getting things done, and solving problems.”

O’Brien also defended herself against an allegation

that she does not ilive in District 42.

“There have been several conversations. Four years ago it was the same conversation because my boyfriend and I have two children together,” O’Brien said. “I work very hard to still have my own house where all my mail goes; my children have a safe and comfortable place to go that mom has and dad has.”

The forums will be rebroadcast on the local cable channel prior to election day and available on the city of Grand Forks’ Facebook page. More information on the upcoming North Dakota general election on Nov. 5 can be found at

www.vote.nd.gov

.