Republican incumbents defeat challengers

Jun 11, 2008 - 07:11:14 CDT Associated Press

Four incumbent Republican legislators defeated challengers in three separate primary races.

Edinburg Sen. Curtis Olafson, who is running for his first four-year term after being appointed to the Senate in December 2006, defeated Harvey Hope of Langdon 74 percent to 26 percent in unofficial GOP primary results. "It takes a significant amount of time, but it was time well spent," Olafson said of his primary effort. "I really enjoyed the campaign, actually."Olafson got 1,099 votes to Hope's 377 in unofficial returns. Olafson represents District 10, which includes Cavalier County, most of Pembina County and part of Towner County in North Dakota's northeastern corner, along the Canadian border. Olafson served during the 2007 Legislature as the successor to former Sen. Tom Trenbeath, R-Cavalier, who resigned his seat to take a job as deputy attorney general. Olafson is running this fall for a full four-year term. His Democratic opponent, Paul Bonaime, of Neche, was nominated Tuesday without primary opposition. "I was appointed rather than elected, and it wasn't too surprising that someone would try to mount a challenge in the primary with that fact in the background,"Olafson said. "I think (the primary race) will make me a stronger candidate in the fall."

My sincere thanks to the citizens of District 10!

Here are the numbers from the June 10th Primary:

Senator Curtis Olafson 1,102 (75%)

Harvey L Hope 378 (25%)

I will appreciate your continued support in the
general election in November, so I can continue
to work hard for a bright future for
District 10 and for North Dakota
Thank you,
Senator Curtis Olafson

Cavalier County Republican Letter to the Editor 5-26-08

It is a sad truth in the political arena that good people sometimes become the target of a personal attack. But, I will not let that deter me from talking about the real issues with you, the citizens of District 10. And, in the end, unwarranted personal attacks won’t matter, because the citizens of District 10 know me, and they know that I am dedicated to doing what is right. I stand tall and proud of who I am and all I have accomplished in business and community leadership and now in the Legislature. On June 10th, negative politics will be soundly rejected by the voters of District 10, and positive ideas and optimism will win the day.
With the leadership of two visionary governors and the Legislature in recent years, the State of North Dakota is seeing an economic boom which is unprecedented in our state’s history. This has enabled us to put more money into Human Services, more money into K-12 education, more money into one-time infrastructure investments, and more funding into almost every other needed State government service. New industries are coming into North Dakota like never before, and people are able to keep more of their hard-earned money than in many other states. Further growth will depend on keeping our economy expanding and I will continue to work to make that happen. One of the very best ways for government to enhance economic development is to leave as much money as possible in the hands of the taxpayers. With the budget surplus projected for the 2009 Legislative session, I will be looking for ways to get some of that extra money back into the hands of our hard working taxpayers in a more efficient way than the bill that was passed in the 2007 session. Governor Hoeven has a proposal on the table which will accomplish that by significantly reducing local property taxes and transferring a much greater share of the cost of K-12 education funding to the State, and I am sure that it will receive due consideration.
To be effective in the Legislature, you need to work to develop the respect and trust of good people on both sides of the political aisle. You can’t walk into the Legislature with both guns blazing and expect to accomplish anything positive. Anyone who would try that approach would be quickly shunned by everyone and would become ineffective and irrelevant. I have worked hard to become an effective voice for District 10 by working cooperatively with others in the Legislature. During my time in the Senate, constituents have brought me many concerns involving state agencies that I have successfully resolved by approaching the people in those agencies in a calm, civil, and respectful manner.
I will continue to serve the citizens of District 10 and North Dakota by approaching my job in the same way I approach life in general–with a positive, enthusiastic, upbeat attitude. North Dakota has a bright future. We are the envy of the nation with our state economy and budget surplus, with our position in the driver’s seat for energy development and with our stronger production agriculture economy. Keeping that future bright will require electing positive people to our Legislature who have a solid background in business and community leadership. It is very important that you make your voice heard and cast your vote on June 10th. I would appreciate your vote and your support so that I can continue to work hard for District 10 and for North Dakota. Thanks for listening.

North Dakota Transmission Authority Meeting

Senator Curtis Olafson has announced that the North Dakota Transmission Authority will be holding a Round Table Dialogue on Transmission on Tuesday, May 20th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the Brynhild Haugland Room at the State Capitol in Bismarck. The objective of the dialogue is to bring transmission owners together with wind developers to discuss the unique issues facing transmission development in North Dakota. The event will begin with short presentations from transmission owners and wind developers, with the majority of the morning devoted to discussing issues and possible solutions. Sandi Tabor, Acting Director of the North Dakota Transmission Authority, said, “North Dakota has seen increasing interest in project development and interconnection of wind generation projects with existing transmission. This activity has spurred growing concerns over orderly development and proper planning.” Senator Olafson said, “Electrical energy developers and many people in state government are well aware that transmission capability is quickly becoming a concern for continued electrical generation development. I have been working with Sandi Tabor on this issue for some time and we think it will be helpful to bring together industry experts in an effort to address the transmission challenge. We are hopeful that the meeting will produce some discussion and some ideas that will move the effort forward.” The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call Senator Olafson at 701-993-8240.

Bovine TB Meeting

A bovine tuberculosis informational meeting was held on April 8th in Park River. The meeting was organized by District 10 State Senator Curtis Olafson and focused on the current status of the ongoing effort in Minnesota to eradicate tuberculosis after being identified in northwest Minnesota cattle herds and in the whitetail deer population in the same area. The meeting also provided valuable information on what cattle producers can do to help prevent further spread of the disease.

State officials who presented information for cattle producers were Dr. William Hartmann, Minnesota State Veterinarian, Dr. Susan Keller, North Dakota State Veterinarian, Roger Johnson, North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Also present were Ryan Bernstein, Legal Counsel to Governor John Hoeven, Wade Moser, Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, and local veterinarians.

The meeting was moderated by Senator Curtis Olafson and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, and all area producers are invited to attend.

Click on the link below to read the order issued on February 21st, 2008 by the North Dakota Board of Animal Health regarding the testing required for importation of Bovine TB affected species from Minnesota:

http://www.agdepartment.com/Programs/Livestock/BOAH/BoardOrder2008-01-MNTBCattleBisonGoatsFarmedCervi.pdf

For additional information about bovine tuberculosis, click on either of the links below:
http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,1607,7-186-25804---,00.html

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/anhealth/jaa04s03.html

Farm Bill Forum

Seated left to right: Senator Curtis Olafson, Commissioner of Agriculture Roger Johnson, Governor John Hoeven, and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.

District 10 State Senator Curtis Olafson participated in the round-table discussion on the Farm Bill held in Bismarck on March 28th. The event was hosted by North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, and featured Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer.

Participating in the forum were representatives of approximately 20 farm organizations, farm commodity groups, the banking industry, and a member of the ND Senate and the ND House of Representatives.

Photo courtesy of Shirley J. Olgeirson, Bismarck