Steve Swiontek

Over 45 years as a leader in community banking makes me a strong and informed candidate for re-election to the North Dakota House. I take a community-first approach to leadership and truly believe that investing in our constituents is crucial for the development and growth of our state.

North Dakota is a great state and people are drawn to the quality of life we enjoy. We need to make sure the needed resources are available for not only new residents but for all of us currently enjoying North Dakota as our home. Strengthening the economy, providing access to affordable childcare, and supporting education for our North Dakota’s students are all crucial to ensuring we continue our state’s great momentum.

We need to enhance workforce development so our small businesses can continue to produce. Childcare is an ongoing concern, not only in available services but in staff to fill positions. Addressing fairness in property tax is an ongoing discussion. Access to mental health and addiction services are critical to ensuring our communities remain healthy and vibrant. School funding at all levels and Legacy Fund earnings require our continued review and assessment. Addressing these challenges and turning them into opportunities will continue our economic growth!

Yes, as a business leader I’ve spent my career building a culture and an environment that attracts and retains a high-quality workforce. With that perspective, I know first-hand the challenges our small businesses face when hiring.

In Bismarck I supported building career academies which will equip young people with the skills they need to fill high-demand careers in the trades, healthcare and technology.

We also need to ensure that North Dakota’s brand is strong and attractive for citizens looking to leave other areas of the country or large metros due to the challenges these areas are facing.

Yes, however I believe any incentive programs need to be means-tested and face appropriate scrutiny. With that as a baseline, there is absolutely a place for tax deferment or tax credit programs which incentivizes investment and job creation in North Dakota.

As a business leader and community champion, I’ve always brought stakeholders together to solve problems. At Gate City Bank we launched a Child Care Business Loan Program which helped create or maintain care for over 400 children across nearly a dozen childcare centers across North Dakota. In Bismarck I was glad to support legislation to address childcare affordability and availability by incentivizing employer assistance and speeding up employee background checks.

North Dakota’s legislature must address these critical challenges through incentive programs and public-private partnerships which support the workforce infrastructure necessary for our state to grow.

When local leadership is actively engaged in leveraging a comprehensive growth strategy it is appropriate for North Dakota to leverage its resources to support local or regional initiatives which will grow our state and improve our economy! In Bismarck I serve as Vice Chair of the Education & Environment Appropriations Committee where I was responsible with budgets for water projects — including the Red River Valley Water Supply Project. As your representative I’ll continue to fight for adequate funding to both the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and Fargo airport renovation.

I believe any dollars redirected from our state’s legacy fund deserves heavy scrutiny. If projects can clear a reasonable means test, I believe the legacy fund is a critical tool for financing projects in areas of our state where access to capital is less prevalent.

We must address the rising cost of property taxes in our state however elimination is not the answer. Without a plan to replace funding for critical services like fire, police, snow removal and schools, the proposed measure would leave our cities scrambling to provide the basic services our citizens expect from their government. Community leaders across our state must answer the calls from voters to address the rising cost of local government by tightening their belts.