Christine O’Riley

As a Veteran and Clinical Psychologist, I believe that my dedication to people, as well as my national service and executive management experience, will allow me to bring a fresh outlook to the legislature. Whether one is legislating or problem-solving, the bottom line is that human dynamics are complicated and require unique approaches. Compassionate yet honest approaches differ, as I learned in Miami working with children and families, and again in military hospitals working with seriously injured adults in the prime of their lives, and once again in rural health settings working with the aging and chronically ill.

A) Building future generations by seeking to enhance economic opportunities by steering workforce solutions that encourage business and workforce development, strengthen recruitment, and ensure coordination between State education/training programs that match employers’ needs. Affordable housing, empowering parents to parent, and exploring quality education options are also essential components.

B) Taxpayer relief, or ways for all of us to hold onto our hard-earned money, by investing in tax solutions that provide noticeable benefits for families while reducing regulations, waste, fraud, abuse, and duplication of services.

C) Valuing individuals and families by ensuring a right to life for all ages.

The advancements and challenges to North Dakota necessitate balancing technological needs, agricultural production, national and state security issues, communication developments, and infrastructure sectors with sensible policy and regulation. Guaranteeing and abiding by government transparency requirements, education/employment sector needs, environmental safeguards, agriculture protections, and public health & safety will be instrumental to preserving the beauty of the state and its natural resources with includes the populace. Government, industry, and policymakers ought to work to position the state for success through open and honest communication to reduce the propensity for unintended disregard for citizens, poor outcomes, and misunderstandings.

Generally, no, since the freedom to embark upon development and business endeavors is indicative of capitalism or a free market system. Businesses, developers, etc. should incentivize their future employees to join the organization and then sustain their own workforces while meeting the demands of their stakeholders and investors. Perhaps under rare circumstances, but it would depend upon the project and/or initiative and its actual benefit to the citizens of North Dakota.

It depends upon the project and/or initiative and its actual benefit to the citizens of North Dakota. Evidence suggests that many initiatives fail to benefit the taxpayers. Tax Incentive Programs, Renaissance Zones, Business/Industry, Museum/Library, and other such projects often fail to produce results. State taxpayer-funded projects should include public notice, notice of cost-benefit analyses, actual procured private funding deposits before taxpayer matches, and action plans for failed investor outcomes to not penalize taxpayers with debt in the end. “Investors” should be monitored for financial soundness to reduce ongoing risk and not be allowed to default and leave town.

The Fargo/Metro area housing market study requires further analysis, since the 2023 Metro COG data may no longer represent 2027 needs. For example, the current Fargo vacancy rate of 16% and the Metro rate of 6.2% fit within the stable market range of 5-8% according to real estate experts. Of course, statewide the housing situation varies by region. Affordable housing options ought to begin with decreasing burdensome regulations, strengthening supply chains, as well as promoting careers in skilled construction trades to increase labor supply and reduce wait times and costs. Burdensome regulations make up 25% of new housing costs.

Parents must be empowered to parent, and this includes caring for and educating their children. Parents have the sole responsibility to choose quality childcare that meets the needs of the child(ren) and family. Government-financed childcare is a socialist solution and, as such, childcare should not be subsidized by US taxpayers. Federal and State child tax credits were designed to defray the costs of child expenses. Employers sometimes offer credits and/or other matching types of incentives that employees can take advantage of to share costs.

Yes. The project represents an appropriate utilization of state resources to reliably provide for the basic needs of its people. It will provide an emergency water supply to central and eastern North Dakota (approximately 50% of the state’s population) during times of water scarcity so as to protect public health, ensure ongoing economic vitality, and provide for environmental benefits in the river systems. The project utilizes existing federally funded assets along with substantial state funding and local water authority funding. The project will provide much-needed water capacity for industrial and municipal growth in communities along its path.