Mary Schneider

My 45-plus years as an attorney, and a broad continuum of life experiences have prepared me thoroughly for legislative work. Before law school I was a police officer in Colorado, a criminal justice researcher in Maryland, and worked for social services in Georgia and Virginia. For 24 years I was executive director managing a Minnesota legal services program which handled over 2,000 cases a year. Since being elected in 2014 I have served in North Dakota's House of Representatives. I've been active in national, regional, and community activities, earning multiple lifetime achievement and justice awards.

Economics, education, and healthcare are constant priorities, but next year I would like to: (1) focus on Human Services, including mental and behavioral health, the protection of children and adequate services for families, and day care; (2) expand quality affordable housing for families, and address homelessness; and (3) advance policies that break down barriers and promote opportunities in life, work, and communities allowing people to both meet their basic needs and positively contribute to society to the extent of their potential. These priorities will address critical problems and promote success for individuals, businesses, and our state.

The economy and infrastructure are constant challenges. Expanding, utilizing, and preserving both our natural resources and the human resources needed for our workforce will also pose significant issues. With possible breakthroughs in mining rare earth minerals and using abandoned wells to develop and export geothermal energy, we may have valuable potential to add to our petroleum and agriculture industries. We will be challenged to grow and attract a skilled and educated workforce, and that will require attractive and inviting communities with adequate and affordable housing, good schools, available public and private services, expanded businesses, and quality healthcare.

Yes. We need to expand and retain our needed workforce if we expect North Dakota to prosper. I have supported incentives to recruit and retain required professionals--medical personnel, attorneys, dentists, educators, and others. I sponsored a bill to exempt military pensions from taxation to keep and attract skilled and trained military members, and a bill to attract experienced Peace Corps members with agricultural, management, and international development skills. I've supported a variety of other talent-producing and retaining initiatives, programs, and interstate-sharing efforts, and will continue to do so.

Yes. Since 2015 I've supported a substantial number of bills directly impacting economic development including incentives, tax credits, and tax changes. I've promoted and voted for innovative ideas to help create new businesses, and grow, reward, and expand established ones. I will continue to especially look for ways to foster development in Fargo, West Fargo, and Cass County during my legislative tenure.

Both House and Senate Tax Committees have considerable potential tools to lessen costs and provide incentives to facilitate more housing development--but powerful legislative leadership to voice the unmet housing needs of our area is needed. The legislature has untapped potential to break down barriers that slow or impede housing creation, and to provide appropriations for housing incentives, tax breaks, first-time and family home-buying programs, and public-private partnerships with banks and businesses. The Bank of North Dakota can be enormously helpful, as would importing ideas that have worked elsewhere. Success, however, requires strong advocates and skilled leadership from our area.

Providing access to quality childcare is critically important to working families and employers. I advocated for passage of a number of childcare initiatives in the past, and attended Chamber and employer meetings at the legislature and in Fargo/West Fargo to support expansion of childcare options. In the past I've promoted, co-sponsored, and voted for a variety of incentives for employers and funding for daycares and their operators, including tax breaks and credits, insurance and benefit supports for employees, and human services policy changes. In the Senate, I'll continue to work on expansion and access measures until the crisis is alleviated.

I have consistently supported, both in meetings and at the legislature, the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, and will continue to do so. It is of critical importance to our area and its future needs.

Yes. I am on the record in support of the recent legislation to provide access to the Wahpeton area. Generally, I support state investment in local infrastructure projects that benefit our area's expanding economy, enhance our communities' safety (like flood control), or ensure that the Fargo, West Fargo, and Cass County business climate remains strong.