Dakota Beacon

My father always said he bought a grocery store because it was the only way he could afford to feed six kids.  Furthermore, it was a way for all of to be conscripted into indentured servitude and for him to keep us close to home. 

After a baptism by fire and several months of schooling from ambitious field reps employed by SUPERVALU, I began to see there was more to the supermarket business than hard labor.  It was a very sophisticated business with a net profit of 1% if the operator knew what he was doing.  

I had to learn more than I bargained for in those early years, but I got my feet under me and started to look around for ways to enhance the business opportunity in front of me.  

I ran for a seat on the Washburn city commission where I found out something - I liked being part of the local political scene, but it did have its pitfalls!  Most problems began with a citizen complaint—in this particular situation, it was about loose dogs.

The mayor Stroup wanted to keep order so he did what any mayor would do, and he hired a dog catcher. What a great move! He solved one problem and created a new one—the next complaint was all the rabbits in town (not to mention the fines I paid for having my dog impounded). All just in the name of locally controlled government!   

Speaking of which, the course of my life was about to change!

Attending meetings for the District 8 political, I began a lifelong affair with the political process. Some of the best examples of conservative thought and subsequent action peopled this district and it especially showed itself in the leadership and legislative presence.  

I was destined for the role that is playing itself now. It all started with my introduction into Central McLean County consisting of smile and a word or two from Senator Dave Robinson, Senator Shirley Lee and one day chairman of the ND GOP, Senator Layton Freborg.

For any one of those three to sign-off on me as spokesman for the values they espoused back in the day, which included true fiscal conservatism and a strict moral code, became a huge vote of confidence. This created the solid philosophical and practical stance I carried all the way to the chairmanship of the Republican Party in 2007.

There was a lively voice from the other side that garnered enough votes to trade house seats in District 8 every 4 years or so. Even in fierce competition, there was a civility and respect for differing views but no confusion as to where they stood on the core issues. I’d like to get back to a 1980s flavored grass roots approach to the process.   

Would you consider getting involved?  

That’s one of my goals as I write to the naturally grounded conservatives of ND.  To dial back to defining and engaging the components of conservatism as the grassroots—those “people of inland America” as Walt Whitman referred to us, to show themselves for who they are once again.

Emineth is a North Dakota native businessman and political activist. He is a former executive director and chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Emineth has served on the Republican National Committee and chaired numerous presidential campaigns in North Dakota. He is the host of “The Legislature Today” and “Open Range” daily TV shows on BEK. He is a serial entrepreneur and has 40-plus years of business experience with multi-national companies. He has traveled the world extensively and has served as CEO and president of mid-tier companies.