North Dakota
Port: We need better enforcement of campaign laws (and maybe better campaign laws, too)
MINOT — American politics have grown more coarse in the Trump era.
The political process was never a walk in the park, but they’ve taken on an edge compared to the not-so-distant past. North Dakota politics are no exception to the rule, either. Driven in no small part by a North Dakota Republican Party that is divided against itself, this primary season has been a nasty business filled with accusations and recriminations.
We’re in the silly season now. The primary election is looming on June 11, and given how diminished North Dakota’s Democrats are, that election will effectively conclude many races in the Legislature and for statewide office. Either because the Democratic candidate is not competitive or because the Democrats didn’t nominate a candidate at all.
In the coming days, you’ll hear many accusations about campaign law violations, with varying degrees of veracity. These include billboards and mailers without the required disclosures attached or supposedly independent political action committees coordinating too closely with candidates. You may also hear about ethics complaints filed against candidates.
But this column isn’t about any specific set of accusations. Rather, I’d like to make the argument that the officials tasked with enforcing North Dakota’s campaign laws need to be ready for this to be the new normal.
In my experience, law enforcement officials — from police officers and sheriffs to county prosecutors — have been reluctant to get involved in these matters. Their attitude is that these are petty matters of politics and really not worthy of their time or attention. And yet, a law on the books is a law that must be taken seriously or removed from said books (more on that in a moment).
At a time when some political forces in our country are trying to tear down our institutions of law and order, when politicians look to outgun accountability through the abject shamelessness of their actions, we can’t afford to have a lackadaisical attitude toward campaign laws.
Laws governing political campaigns need to be enforced robustly. They need to mean something. And when a politician violates them, that should be taken seriously.
There are some things the Legislature can do to help. A thorough review of campaign laws is appropriate. Many of them were written in a pre-digital age. Do they still make sense? Should they be modified, or perhaps even eliminated? Lawmakers should also consider who should investigate and enforce the laws. Do we want cops and deputies doing it? Or could another body — maybe the state Ethics Commission? — be given the resources and authority to take over?
Suffice it to say that things can be improved.
We live in tumultuous political times. Our state and country feel divided in ways few of us have ever experienced. There’s little we can do about that as a matter of law, but we can make sure the existing laws reflect the realities of modern campaigns and are enforced thoroughly and fairly.
Ashley Gaschk is a middle school English teacher in Mandan.
BISMARCK, N.D. – The AFL-CIO in North Dakota has new leadership for the first time in six years.
Delegates to the North Dakota AFL-CIO convention elected Ashley Gaschk to a four-year term as President, Secretary-Treasurer – the top role in the state federation of labor unions.
Gaschk is succeeding outgoing president Landis Larson, who is retiring after 40 years of dedicated service to the labor movement – the last 6 of which were served as AFL-CIO president.
Gaschk said in part, quote, “Being a union member has improved my life in many ways, and I look forward to spending the next four years working to improve the lives of union members across our state.”
At the convention, the organization issued support for federal workers and United States Postal Service workers as well as opposition to Medicaid cuts.
Bismarck— Ashley Gaschk was elected to serve as the president and secreatary-treasurer of the North Dakota AFL-CIO at its convention.
“Being a union member has improved my life in many ways, and I look forward to spending the next four years working to improve the lives of union members across our state,” Gaschk said via news release. “On the job and in our communities, union members fight for fair pay and benefits, secure retirement, and expanded opportunities for all of North Dakota’s working families. I’m honored to have been elected and eager to get to work.”
Gaschk is an educator by trade, teaching middle school English in Mandan, N.D., since 2017. She is a member of the Mandan Education Association where she has served as a building representative, local union recording secretary, contract negotiator and delegate to the Missouri Slope Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Gaschk also taught in Minnesota, where she was a member of Education Minnesota. In addition to teaching, Gaschk worked as staff for the Transport Workers Union in the Legislative and Political Affairs department in Washington, DC. She later honed her organizing skills working as a field organizer for Working America, leading canvasses of union households in Minnesota.
Gaschk will replace Landis Larson, who is retiring after 40 years of service dedicated to the labor movement. He is a member of the International Association of Machinists local lodge 2525 and plans on staying active in the local labor movement. Larson served six years as North Dakota AFL-CIO president before announcing his retirement this spring.
“It’s been an honor to serve the labor movement. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and I know the future of the movement is in good hands” Larson said.
The North Dakota AFL-CIO convention also re-elected Deb Carter (United Steelworkers Local 560) as first vice president as well as Nick Archuleta (North Dakota United), Bob Wolf (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 714), and Dana Hillius (North Dakota United) as trustees.
The delegates to the 66th Annual North Dakota AFL-CIO convention passed resolutions in solidarity with federal workers, United States Postal Service workers and immigrant workers, as well as resolutions in support for Job Corp and in opposition to Medicaid cuts.
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