Letter: Merrill Piepkorn will put North Dakotan’s first!

Growing up in the geographical center of the country led to a habit. No matter where I am, if I see a map of the U.S., I look at North Dakota first. It’s the same with lists and polls.  If there is an article about “the states with the happiest people” or “life expectancy by state,” I search for North Dakota.  Is it at the top?  Bottom?  I’m pleased when North Dakota scores high for quality of life and low for cost of living. 

Two years ago, I moved back to Fargo from Boston. There, I was a registered independent.  Hesitant about the two-party system, I looked up each candidate rather than vote along party lines. 

Now I’m looking up which candidates for Governor will move North Dakota higher up those lists.  I want to see low unemployment and a diverse workforce. I want parents to feel their children are getting a strong public education and have affordable childcare. The government should work for me, not against me, and use taxes to support all people in the state.  We don’t have enough workers to impact the economy, yet government officials are attacking IVF and contraception and making it harder for people to plan their families and really impact quality of life.  

Let’s put North Dakota at the top of the nation by creating communities with those qualities. When I look at the Governor candidates, the only one I see who can do that is Merrill Piepkorn. He’s got my vote! 

Danielle Erdmann
Fargo, ND