Mathern Message

We are offering four minutes of unedited time in our newscasts to the major candidates for governor and US Congress Yesterday we heard from Governor John Hoeven Now it s his challenger s turn Here s Democrat candidate for governor Tim Mathern I thank KX for giving me this opportunity to speak to you today I am running for Governor because I know the potential of this great state I know that it can grow and flourish so much more than it has under the current governor Sure the state is benefiting from high oil and grain prices But middle class families are struggling with the rising cost of gas groceries and health care I understand their struggle At the same time corporate special interests and wealthy donors have benefited from having a friend in the governor s office For the last eight years home property taxes have gone up almost 50 while other tax dollars have been stockpiled into a billion dollar surplus Local communities have been forced to raise property taxes to pay for things like education roads and bridges That s poor fiscal management I have the skills and experience to do better After 8 years North Dakota continues to lose population Our educated young folks leave and rural communities are in decline My roots are in Edgeley North Dakota where I grew up with 12 brothers and sisters We had to work 7 days a week or we weren t going to make it The values I grew up with of hard work and helping others are the values I bring to my work every day I have been a state senator for over two decades And as a social worker case manager and administrator I have also worked to improve the lives of children and families of all ages Now I want to bring my experience to the governor s office to help build up this great state Here are some things a Mathern administration will do First I know many of you are concerned about taxes My middle class tax cut plan offers income and property tax relief to the families that need it most Governor Hoeven s plan cuts taxes for the wealthiest North Dakotans and out of state corporations who need it the least My plan also includes increased funding for education and repairs for roads and bridges which will help reduce property taxes further The governor has sat back and watched the rural areas of North Dakota empty out He talks about the problem but does nothing about it A Mathern administration will do two things to give young people a reason to stay First college students will get full reimbursement for their tuition costs if they stay and work in the state for 8 years after graduating But they won t stay if they don t have good jobs For example the governor doesn t realize that almost every state around us is doing so much more to turn their natural resources into energy and profits than we are North Dakota has the most wind of any state in the country We should be harnessing it to help drive the engine of our rural economies And local communities rather than outside corporations should control the profits Minnesota with a third of our wind is already producing over twice as much wind energy as we are The governor has been virtually silent on the spiraling cost of health care He talks about the need to make health care affordable but he does nothing about it And he mocks me for saying that I will make sure that everyone in the state has access to affordable health insurance and affordable health care beginning with our children Friends you have a real choice between john Hoeven and me I am offering real plans for tax relief for health care reform and renewable energy which is the key to revitalizing our rural communities A Mathern administration will set higher goals to achieve a healthy and brighter future I want to roll up my sleeves and get started Thank you for listening Next Tuesday and Wednesday we ll hear extended messages from the candidates for US Congress - Democrat incumbent Earl Pomeroy and Republican challenger Duane Sand