Shawn Kessel

Professionally, I’ve spent almost 20 years as a city administrator in two ND cities & then seven years as Deputy Commerce Commissioner. That work has put me in the middle of complex issues - multimillion dollar budgets, infrastructure, workforce, housing, business growth-and required me to work with elected officials and community leaders to find solutions. At the same time, I never left the private sector. I’ve owned and sold businesses which keeps me grounded in things like payroll, managing risk & growing a business. On the personal side, my wife and are foster parents. That experience changes how you see everything-family, responsibility & the role systems play in our lives. It’s given me a deeper understanding of the challenges some families face & the importance of strong, supportive communities. It also reinforces my belief that government has a role, but works best when it supports-not replaces-families.

My top priorities are economic development and diversification, smart growth in cities and supporting strong families. Economic development and diversification-ND has a strong foundation, particularly in energy and agriculture, my focus would be on growing and attracting businesses that provide high-paying, long term jobs (AI proof), in technology, value-added/precision ag, biotechnology & other sectors that ND has a competitive advantage in. Smart growth-growth is a good thing but only if managed well. I’ve been a part of a fast growing community (Dickinson) and know the importance of planning, strategic investments & methods to finance growth. Strong families-are the foundation of strong communities. Policy needs to reinforce the ability of families to thrive.

Opportunity-it starts with economic development. We are in a strong position to build on the success of our core industries while expanding into new ones. For instance, the nexus between ag & energy for things like sustainable aviation fuel. We also have the elements to succeed in the AI world by providing the foundation of the industry with energy. We produce more energy than we consume so we aren’t Silicon Valley but we can provide the infrastructure behind how those technologies are developed and scaled. I believe in ND’s all of the above energy strategy & the many benefits it can provide. Headwinds-an aging population creates pressure on the workforce and the provision of healthcare. The continued urban migration is a challenge for rural ND. I’m also concerned about education pathways and alignment. Many of the jobs of tomorrow will be influenced by AI - how are we aligning secondary and post-secondary education to keep up. Skills trades are a huge opportunity.

Yes-when done strategically and with accountability. Programs should be results driven, time limited where appropriate & focused on outcomes like job placement, wage growth & population stability. If we want to compete and grow, investing in people is one of the smartest things we can do.

Yes-with a clear priority on expansion and retention. Growing businesses we already have is typically more cost-effective & more successful than chasing new ones. State funding tools-like targeted incentives/tax credits-should be used strategically to help local companies scale, create good paying jobs & stay competitive. Attraction has a role but it should be disciplined and focused. I believe that focus should be on diversification. Done right, these programs should deliver measurable returns for for taxpayers & long-term economic stability.

Attainable, market-rate housing is not easy to obtain due to the many variables involved. During my time at Commerce, I was involved in a Housing Task Force that studied the full range of housing challenges & opportunities-everything from building codes & regulatory barriers to emerging solutions like tiny homes and alternative building technology (“3D printed concrete homes). That work reinforced how complex the issue is, but also how many tools are available. Reducing regulatory barriers - streamline permitting, modern zoning in cities that allow more flexible housing types is step one. Addressing construction costs through the development of skilled trades that address workforce needs helps. Finding ways to creatively build and finance infrastructure is another option worth pursuit.

I would focus on the supply of providers. Identifying and educating new providers and help them navigate the system with programs like Childcare Aware. During my time at Commerce, we helped create 1,000’s of childcare slots across ND through a grant program that allowed each region to identify and address their specific needs. Grant funds were used primarily to lower the cost of entry (construction or other regulatory compliance). By streamlining rules where possible, while maintaining safety, & offering startup support/training, we can grow capacity.

Yes. I support reliable, long-term water access l. It is essential for communities, agriculture and economic growth. The project strengthens drought resiliency, protects existing investments, and supports future development. Like any major infrastructure effort, it should be managed responsibly with strong oversight, cost discipline and transparency. Water security is foundational.

Yes. Expanding access to reliable, affordable energy strengthens economic development, supports industry & provides options for communities. Natural gas complements the “all of the above” energy strategy I believe in. The lack of natural gas as an option limits economic development and the attraction of industry. While at Commerce I was able to work on projects that were “natural gas centric” and the places these projects could be located were limited to where the natural gas is produced or where the natural gas is piped. Using ND produced natural gas also allows the oil industry in ND to continue to produce.