Candidates meet citizens in Jamestown

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Talk about it

By Kari Lucin

The Jamestown Sun

Candidates and constituents gathered at Quality Inn & Suites Thursday to meet and talk about the issues.

The event, sponsored by the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Local Regional Issues Committee, was sparsely attended, but those who did attend agreed they appreciated it.

“It’s nice to meet them face-to-face,” said Mary Werner, of rural Jamestown, who attended the event with her husband, Roy.

Neither of the Werners changed their minds after meeting the candidates, however.

“I’m a Republican, and I go straight down the line (when voting),” Roy explained. “Whatever the party puts up, that’s what I vote for. I’m a hard-nosed Republican.”

The candidates also failed to influence the vote of Jim and Linda Bender of Cleveland, who had both already voted.

“But I feel more confident in my vote,” Linda said, noting that they’d talked to around eight or nine candidates that evening.

Both Benders reported being especially impressed with Ryan Taylor, the Democratic candidate for governor.

The Republican candidate, incumbent Jack Dalrymple, did not attend the meeting, although according to Lisa Hicks, communications program coordinator with the chamber, all the candidates were invited.

“We figure it’s good for us to go out and be the accessible candidate,” Taylor said.

Another person whose opponent was not at the event was Tracy Potter, who is running for state superintendent.

“I think the quest for measuring is where we go wrong, because it focuses the test questions on things that can be measured,” Potter said, in an explanation of why he believes North Dakota should comply only minimally with federal No Child Left Behind laws. “Math and science and reading aren’t the only subjects.”

Potter’s opponent is Kirsten Baesler.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, politics