Doug Sharbono

I have lived in the Fargo area for over 30 years and have worked in the same business for 30 years. I have served on a number of boards and committees. This ranges from non-profits supporting disabled children, to church boards, to political organizations. I have participated in the legislative process writing testimony and have been involved with the Republican Party in North Dakota since 2010.

1. Limited Government. The people are suffering from government tax burden and regulation.
2. Pro-2nd Amendment. This right is fundamental in protecting our other rights as recognized by the founding fathers. This must be kept secure.
3. Pro-Life. Human life has intrinsic value, and it must be preserved. Even Hippocrates, who gave us the original Hippocratic Oath understood this.

Inflation is harmful to our economy. We must endeavor to not add to its effects by shrinking private sector workforce by having too large of a government. Private sector businesses should not be placed into a condition where they are competing against government subsidies. The most egregious example is after Covid, restaurant owners could not get employees because government was paying hard-earned tax dollars for people to stay home. The businesses could not easily compete with this.

We have an education system constitutionally mandated. Reasonable funding should support these constitutional obligations.

Yes, in limited circumstances I would support the use of economic development incentives to remedy brownfield sites. The role of government should be limited to providing services that cannot otherwise be provided. Tax carveouts and other subsidies for data centers are particularly egregious. There is such high demand for our cold weather location and energy resources, we have misjudged incentivizing that industry. We already have what they need without subsidy. I strongly disagree with the siting of the data centers. The people are not a doormat for them.

Fire and police protection, roads, water, sewers, and reasonable education are within the role of government.

We should not add to inflation by incentivizing new business to compete with existing businesses. We already have limited tools available. I have personally used a VA loan.

Childcare has always been a challenge. Creativity is the solution. My family recruited college students to assist us. It was a win-win. Our children still talk to them. Looking up the licensed public daycare my family also used, they currently have openings. I am very hesitant to throw public money at something that isn't beyond a simple challenge that creativity can solve on the private side.

Yes. The Red River was dry for over 400 days in the 1930s and I do not believe Lake Ashtabula has adequate capacity to handle our water supply issues. We need the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, and we need to see its completion unlike previous failed water projects.

Yes. A natural gas generating plant on the east side of our state will require more gas pipeline capacity. I understand there is a significant public share that has already been committed to initiate the project. If there are private interests that can eventually assume the public share, I think that would be the best arrangement. Finding a market for our excess natural gas will assist in additional oil exploration. This is a win-win.