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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - APRIL 11, 2016

DRY SPELL ENDS After falling just short for many years, UND will play for the NCAA national hockey championship tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. ND time. UND will play Quinnipiac for the title. Thursday night, UND bested Denver 4-2 in the semifinals. UND has a chance to join NDSU this year with a national championship in a major sport.

ATTORNEY GENERAL WAYNE STENEHJEM is the Republican candidate for governor of ND and his running mate for lieutenant governor will be Sen. Nicole Poolman from Bismarck. Incumbents U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven were nominated for re-election. Fargo businessman Doug Burgum did not prevail at the state Republican convention, but will compete against Stenehjem in the June primary.

CHASE IRON EYES “I’m not a groomed politician, so my social media presence reflected my humor, my sarcasm, my role as a leader in the Native American community and a social justice activist.” -- Iron Eyes (38) is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative from ND. The quote was his explanation for deleting social media before announcing his candidacy. He is an attorney from the Standing Rock Reservation who served prison time for four felonies committed 14 years ago.

DIGGING A DEEP HOLE Both the felonies and the social media issue were reported by Forum columnist Rob Port before mention by the candidate. Iron Eyes also acknowledged having a nude picture online and an inappropriate relationship with a colleague. Iron Eyes is married to pediatrician Sara Jumping Eagle. He blames “a smear campaign” and “a lot of trolls” for his bad publicity. His party deserves blame for a poor job of vetting -- can a candidate starting in such a deep hole expect to succeed?

NOT ME! The most well-known ND Democrats (examples, Mac Schneider and Ryan Taylor) have stepped back and are waiting for a better day. Rep. Marvin Nelson from Rolla and Sen. Joan Heckaman from New Rockford are “good soldier” candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively. The aforementioned Iron Eyes will oppose U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer and Eliot Glassheim (78) of Grand Forks will oppose U.S. Sen. John Hoeven. Democrats had not identified candidates for four state offices at the close of their convention..

TOO MUCH MONEY? “There's a point where Burgum's money and the ostentatious campaign it can support may become a liability.” -- Columnist Rob Port is openly critical of Doug Burgum. On more than one occasion, Port has expressed concern about Burgum’s wealth and influence in Fargo. Stenehjem was quick to echo Port’s theme, he said: “Honor is to be earned not bought.”

BRENT SANFORD, the mayor of Watford City, was selected as Doug Burgum’s running mate. Sanford is a CPA with substantial business background.

GOV. JACK DALRYMPLE says that North Dakota has a "strong and growing" economic base that includes technology, manufacturing and aviation. He cited the fact that the state has more than 15,000 job openings and continues to have one of the fastest-growing populations in the country. The state’s Democrats have requested a special legislative session to restore social services cut from the budget. Dalrymple declined the request and said the cuts in question were mostly new programs not yet introduced.

PIVOTAL YEAR “2016 will be a critical year for farm finances and land values. Crop profitability for 2016 is very poor and mediocre to slightly poor yields could create a farm financial crisis.” -- Andy Swenson, NDSU Extension Service. Average net farm income is expected to be at a 17-year low in 2016. ND farmland values dropped from 4-9 percent in 2015 and may be expected to drop 5-10 percent in 2016. While the price of land is more attractive, low crop prices have dampened the financial ability and enthusiasm of farmers for purchasing land.

BIG CITY CRIME is becoming more noticeable in Fargo. In 2015, reported offenses were up 16 percent, led by assaults (up 18 percent) and vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles (up 29 percent).

GET ON WITH IT “The longer the project is delayed by Minnesota’s regulators and obstructionist lawsuits, the more it will cost.” -- A Forum editorial jabbed at Minnesota for delaying the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. Minnesota also appears to be dragging its feet about financing a share of the project. Cost estimates for the project have risen to $2 billion, but the Forum opined: “Compared to potential losses from such a flood (catastrophic), the diversion price tag is a bargain.”

JOCELYNE AND MONIQUE LAMOUREUX, former UND hockey players, led the U.S. women’s team to a world championship in Kamloops, British Columbia.

SHOULD HEIDI APOLOGIZE? The UND Student Senate asked Professor Heidi Czerwiec to apologize for her exaggerated “fear and anger” comments about ROTC drills on campus. A Fargo Forum online poll found about 70 percent felt Heidi should apologize. The clamor will shortly be resolved -- Heidi has resigned at UND and Grand Forks will be in her rear view mirror.

DAKTOIDS: “Last year, North Dakota had nearly 600,000 bee colonies and has held the title of the number one honey-producing state in the nation since 2004.” -- ND Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring . . . No need to worry about imitators -- the New Salem High School mascot is a holstein cow. The town is also know for Salem Sue, the world’s largest cow, a statue 50 feet long and 38 feet high.

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