A Grand Forks businessman and a UND student are seeking election to the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 43.
Rich Becker and Shelby Wood said in separate announcements Monday that they are seeking the Republican endorsement.
Becker is the founder of Becker Marketing Consultants, past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and the airport authority, and past board president of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation.
This would be the first time he has sought election to a public office.
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“The hardworking people of Grand Forks deserve elected representatives who will work to make government efficient and accountable, from local classrooms to big government agencies,” he said in a statement. “I will evaluate carefully any vote to increase taxes and try to ensure against any bloated budgets.”
Wood, a Bismarck native who is majoring in political science and accountancy, is chairwoman of the university’s College Republicans chapter, according to a news release. She has been on the president’s honor roll at UND and plans to graduate in December.
“Republican leadership helped to foster a strong economy in our state, and with that comes a great responsibility to continue the standard of excellence that has been set,” Wood said in a statement. “To do this, we must sustain a positive tax climate for our residents by continuing property tax relief, continue the creation of quality jobs in our community, and support quality education.”
Wood currently works for Bremer Bank.
Republican Rep. Curt Kreun won’t run for his seat in District 43 this year after moving out of the district, which includes a large section of southwest Grand Forks. Instead, he’s seeking a post on the State Board of Higher Education.
State Rep. Lois Delmore, a Democrat, has already announced she plans to seek re-election in that district.
The District 43 Republicans are holding their endorsing convention at 7 p.m. April 1 in the upper level of the Canad Inns.
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