Full interview with Lieutenant Governor-elect Michelle Strinden on The Flag’s What’s On Your Mind
(BISMARCK, ND) – Hours after winning Tuesday’s general election, the Governor- and Lieutenant Governor-elect, Kelly Armstrong and Michelle Strinden, hit the ground running to prepare for their taking office.
Strinden said she and Armstrong began preparations for their term in office Wednesday morning.
“We can’t wait to get started,” she said.
She joined The Flag’s What’s On Your Mind to discuss several topics that are important to North Dakotans.
Swearing In, Upcoming Legislative Session
While the legislative session begins in earnest on January 7, 2025, much work will already be done.
Armstrong will be sworn in as the next Governor less than a month before the legislative session begins.
Strinden said approximately 40 bills are in the hands of North Dakota’s Legislative Council, more than two months before the session begins.
Property Tax
Strinden said Armstrong has been working on a plan to address property tax ‘for quite some time.’
“It’s going to be a relationship of thoughts between the Governor’s Office and how Kelly wants to approach this,” she said. “But, as he said many times, we need to do more than buy downs. Our property taxes need to reform. We need to provide relief, but we also need to provide reform.”
Strinden said she believes caps will be involved when it comes to property taxes.
While the details will be taken up in legislative session, the Lieutenant Governor-elect says that ‘teeth’ are needed in the reform aspect of property taxes. This will likely include caps.
“I think the caps discussion is one way to really hold the political subdivisions accountable,” she said. “And it will give the people some control.”
She says the relief will be significant.
Education
Strinden says she’s looking forward to hearing from legislators when it comes to education.
“We are behind the curve here, and now is the time to give our parents more educational freedom,” she said. “I am excited to help work out some of the programming opportunities for parents in all sectors of education.”
One of the options is a three-tiered education program, offered as an approved marketplace option for families – including public school students.
“This would be like an educational savings account marketplace,” she said. Money would be spent on tutoring services, STEM opportunities and school lunch, among others.
“We need to provide opportunities for our parents and students,” Strinden said.
She said the voucher system, across the country, is outdated, and North Dakota has the opportunity to be at the forefront of things unique to the state.
