North Dakota AG, secretary candidates outline views

Republicans Michael Howe and Marvin Lepp and Democrat Jeffrey Powell are working for secretary of state, to succeed retiring Republican incumbent Al Jaeger.

Democrat Tim Lamb is difficult Republican Lawyer Basic Drew Wrigley, whom Gov. Doug Burgum appointed in February to satisfy the remaining time period of longtime officeholder Wayne Stenehjem, who died Jan. 28 at 68 from cardiac arrest. Wrigley must win in November to proceed serving.

Howe and Lepp will sq. off within the June main for the precise to advance because the Republican nominee within the November common election. Not one of the different candidates on the discussion board faces a challenger within the main.

The North Dakota Newspaper Affiliation hosted the candidates on the discussion board in Bismarck on Thursday night time. Absentee ballots for the June election turned out there to voters the identical day. 

The secretary candidates mentioned election administration, together with what adjustments, if any, they may pursue. Former President Donald Trump has pushed baseless claims of election fraud in 2020.

Powell, a school pupil adviser at Mayville State College, mentioned “from a procedural viewpoint, I shouldn’t have main adjustments that I’d advocate.” He mentioned he would advocate for ranked-choice voting for state Home seats — or voting for candidates by ranked choice — and for approval voting, which is at use in Fargo, the place voters choose as many candidates as they like, and the winner is the candidate with probably the most votes. 

“Considering of how to modernize our elections is one thing that I’m concerned with doing, however we do have a safe voting system,” Powell mentioned.

Howe, a Casselton-area farmer and state consultant, mentioned he’s “comfy with our election course of the best way it’s,” however “that does not imply I’m not keen to enhance on issues,” reminiscent of by making it “simpler to vote and tougher to cheat.”

He advocates transparency in election administration, notably in mail ballots; in addition to velocity and effectivity in enterprise registration. He was elected to the Home in 2016, and serves on the Home Appropriations Committee, serving to write state company budgets.

Lepp, a enterprise adviser in Bismarck, mentioned he has “a variety of considerations concerning the elections, interval,” having heard fraud considerations from residents. He too advocates transparency in election administration, and would push for up to date election software program.

“In North Dakota, there ought to by no means be a shadow of a doubt in our course of,” Lepp mentioned.

The secretary of state’s annual wage is $114,486.

Lamb and Wrigley outlined their views of the job’s membership on the state Industrial Fee, amongst different subjects.

Transparency of the governor-led, three-member fee could be a spotlight of his, if elected, Lamb mentioned. He served 15 years on the Grand Forks College Board and 20 years within the army.

The fee oversees state pursuits such because the state-owned financial institution, mill and elevator, and has regulatory authority of the vitality business. Lamb expressed openness to including members or advisers to the board.

Wrigley, a former lieutenant governor and former U.S. lawyer for North Dakota, mentioned the lawyer common should present “one-third of the clever stewardship of pursuits, and you need to mix a variety of pursuits,” together with regulation of business, disbursements of grant packages and oversight of the state pursuits. He referred to as the board’s course of “very clear.”

“Anyone within the state or on planet Earth for that matter can livestream the conferences,” mentioned Wrigley, who added that when closed government classes happen, they’re for slim subjects and are adopted by open votes. 

The lawyer common’s annual wage is $165,845.