The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Following a redistricting process that saw their home district eliminated, District 23 representatives Bill Devlin (R) and Don Vigesaa (R) have announced their future plans.
Rep. Don Vigesaa, has announced his intention to run for the House of Representatives in District 29. The door was left open for Vigesaa when House Majority Leader Chet Pollert, one of District 29’s current representatives, also announced his retirement following this term.
Meanwhile, Rep. Devlin, a 20-year veteran of the N.D. Legislature and former Speaker of the House, has announced his retirement from the legislature once his current term expires on Nov. 30.
Late last year, a new redistricting map was drawn that split District 23 among three separate districts (14, 15 and 29). Devlin’s residence in Finley and Vigesaa’s home in Cooperstown were encompassed by District 29 when that map was signed into law by Gov. Burgum last November.
Now, Vigesaa is hoping to continue serving in the N.D. Legislature, but for a somewhat different constituency. The new District 29 encompasses Nelson, Griggs, Steele, Foster and the majority of rural Stutsman County.
Vigesaa has represented Nelson, Griggs and Steele County for years, but must now ingratiate himself with the roughly 9,000 residents he wishes to represent in Stutsman and Foster County. However, as Rep. Vigesaa said in a conversation with the Independent, he’s by no means unfamiliar with the area, or its people.
“When I had the auto-dealership in Cooperstown, we had lots of customers in Carrington and Foster County, so I do know a lot of people over there,” said Vigesaa.
When asked why he chose to run for reelection in District 29, Vigesaa added that it was important to keep representation from the Griggs, Nelson and Steele County area.
“I’ve represented these people for over 18 years and I just didn’t want to leave a void there from those three counties . . . so that was probably the main reason that I decided to run again, to keep that representation in this area.”
Vigesaa has been in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2003, and has served as the assistant majority leader for five sessions. He currently sits on one of the most important committees in the legislature, the House Appropriations Committee, and also serves on the Government Finance Committee, among others.
Vigesaa added that, despite all the changes to District 29, it’s all still rural; in his opinion, that makes him an ideal candidate to continue fighting for rural issues in Bismarck.
“I think, for the residents in 29, in me they would have someone that has experience and leadership experience, and I think it’s really important to have rural legislators sitting on the appropriations committee,” said Vigesaa.
“I just think having rural representation is very key there, and even more so as the redistricting was formulated,” added Vigesaa. “Rural representation is going to be a little bit less this time because the new districts were in the metro areas . . . so our rural voice has been diminished just a bit.”
Vigesaa added that he intends to keep the state’s spending under control, while still supporting the key priorities of rural North Dakota.
“We have several [priorities] in these counties that are very very important,” said Vigesaa. “Of course we have many ag issues that we need to keep our eyes on, we need to try to keep the tax burden on our citizens at a minimum, and one thing we’ve done quite well just lately . . . is getting township funding for our roads and bridges, and that would continue to be an initiative for me going forward.”
Vigessa also stressed the importance of continuing to support critical access hospitals and nursing homes in rural areas.
Two other District 29 Legislators, Rep. Craig Headland of Montpelier and Senator Terry Wanzek of Jamestown have announced they will be seeking another term in office. Rep. Chet Pollert, who held the other position from District 29 announced earlier that he would not be seeking another term in the House. He also served as House Majority Leader.
Senator Wanzek is a farmer-rancher and serves as the vice-chair of Senate Appropriations. During the Interim he serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Budget section and the interim Senate Appropriations Committee.
Representative Headland is also a farmer. He has been the chairman of Finance and Tax Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee during the last several sessions. During the Interim he is serving on the Legacy Fund Earnings Committee and the Interim Taxation Committee.
Those interested in meeting Vigesaa, Headland, Wanzek and/or any other candidate for the upcoming elections can attend the District 29 Republican endorsing convention scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18 at The Gladstone Inn in Jamestown at 6 p.m.
