Michelle Powers

I was an owner of Sweeney Brothers Tractor Company with locations in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot. We supplied heavy construction equipment to the mining industries, and infrastructure to the northern plains. I was privileged to be a board member for non-profits in our community including Nokomis, Village Family Services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I am currently the president of Birthright Fargo-Moorhead and realtor with Archer Real Estate Services.
Having raised my four sons in Grand Forks after graduating from the University of North Dakota keeping communities like Grand Forks and Fargo family oriented and safe is a priority to me.

My top 3 priorities are property taxes, Community safety addressing homelessness, drug crisis, housing, and first responders, and educating our children on what it means to be a citizen of the United States through the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution.

Housing will be ND largest challenge in the years to come. We need to address regulations driving homes prices up by 30%, building homes for retirees to downsize, and assessments and property taxes.

The labor force will be another challenge with more focus on skilled trade talent vs college education. By starting the trade skilled jobs in the high school education curriculum. Exposing young people to skilled trades and educating them on the benefits of these careers.

If businesses choose to recruit outside the area for employees that is their choice. I am against using government funds as incentive by selecting a few businesses that would benefit. As a business owner we know full time employees get health coverage while many businesses choose to employee part time (increasing the need for more employees) leaving the health coverage to the employee or government. This will also put a strain on the housing as we all remember what happened to western North Dakota during the oil boom.

Every business has done a scope on long term goals and objectives on the community it wants to enter. If it is profitable they make the move without incentives or tax credits. The market will dictate the success or failure of said business not the government.

Childcare and housing need to be deregulated. Which in turn drives more competition to the market for childcare and housing.

The Red River Valley Water Supply Project received funding for the phased final design, land services, financial modeling, and construction support through SB2020. The cost should be shared by state and local funds.

Hector International Airport expansion and renovation should be a shared cost to the entire community benefiting from the use of the airport not just Fargo and including state funds.

Would need more information on what strategic projects/initiatives?

The people of North Dakota will be voting on Measure 4 this November. The constituents that have shared with me are wanting action on the issue of property taxes as it has only gotten worse in the last 12 years. North Dakota does not have a revenue problem North Dakota has a spending problem. North Dakota spends $3,000 dollars more per capita than Montana. When property taxes have increased 7% above inflation rate of 3% this issue will be addressed in the next legislation.