Heather Tyulyandin

Being a Senator and then Executive Administrator of Academic and Student Affairs during my graduate years at NDSU. Competing for Miss North Dakota and the work I did as local titleholder. Earning my degrees in fields I am passionate about. Holding a leadership role in my team of staff for NDSU's student apartments. I know how to make connections, advocate for various causes, explain my ideas and process, and enjoy talking with people. It means something to me to be able to help others and find solutions to community issues that benefit the most stakeholders possible.

Public education: Keep public funds going to public schools. Support teachers and school staff to be able to teach the next generation of learners.
Workforce issues: Affordable and accessible housing and affordable and accessible childcare so more people can participate in the workforce. Support for vocational, on the job training, and apprenticeship programs. Safety in the workforce.

Food insecurity: We need to have statewide, coordinated efforts to combat food insecurity, end food deserts, and create access to local foods. Our community members are struggling and so are the groups that support them.

One of the biggest ones is retaining and recruiting young adults for the workforce. North Dakota in general has a hard time appealing to young adults and this is reflected in the number of graduates (high school and college) who leave the state for other opportunities. We need to work on the issues that keep people from participating in the workforce, increase affordable housing and homebuying opportunities, and promote our state scholarships and programs to students in and out of state. In turn, this promotes our economy, creates opportunity, and helps ND thrive.

I feel strongly that our government should be working to do exactly that. Without a workforce, our state can't function. It is important that we take big steps toward recruitment and retention sooner rather than pushing it off for another session. Additionally, while I loved my time as a student at NDSU, I recognize that a four-year degree isn't right for everyone's life. We need people in all jobs, with and without formal education, in order to have a well-rounded world.

I do feel that we should support small businesses, local upstarts, and regional based entities. And I understand the value that larger companies and corporations can bring to the area. But I think we need to carefully weigh the investment in large businesses and nation-wide chains against the potential benefit and return each time. We need to hear from community members and stakeholders on what they see as the benefits and the negatives and try to get as much input as we can. Most importantly, we can't raise citizens' taxes continually to fund these initiatives without ensuring, within reason, that the return will pay that back.

The legislature has a duty to our citizens to ensure that there are opportunities to set roots down in the state. Access to housing opportunities, particularly affordable rentals and starter homes, allows young adults to stay in or move to the state. It also gives couples the option to move from apartments into homes as they start or grow their families. Childcare access allows parents to go back to school, attend training programs, and hold a job. The legislation should support childcare programs with grants and subsidies. Housing costs need guidelines that benefit tenants without giving them free-reign.

Yes, I do. The local communities are paying taxes to the state, as are business and citizens. Those funds should be reinvested in infrastructure that supports those communities. The local area should be responsible for at least a portion of the project's funding, but the state should supplement when the project will have a significant impact on the safety and/or functioning of an area.

I do think this funding should be utilized, without emptying it out. The fund exists to support our state's needs. While we should leave a portion of the fund for the future to continue to grow, leaving all of it to sit when we have problems that need solving is irresponsible too. We have the money to support all kinds of initiatives that would help citizens in many ways, and we have just been refusing to use it. That needs to change.

I oppose the elimination of property taxes. While I understand that property tax is a burden on homeowners and can make it more difficult to purchase a home, the taxes support local communities in ways that we can't afford to lose. Local schools, first responders, local governments, and especially rural areas rely heavily on this funding. Estimates place the lost revenue total for the state at around $1.575 billion each year. This is money the legislature would have to come up with, decreasing the money left for other programs. We can look to reform them, but can't suddenly eliminate them.