FARGO (KFGO) – During a debate on KFGO Tuesday, State Sen. Merrill Piepkorn and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong made their case for why they should be North Dakota’s next governor.
The two had their differences, but also agreed on topics.
One difference surrounds planned large dairy farms proposed in Traill and Richland counties.
“I’m conflicted on it,” Piepkorn said. “I see some of the benefits of it, but there are a lot of environmental concerns that have to be addressed (like) water source, water supply, clean-up, noise, and light pollution. You don’t have to be an environmentalist to wonder, ‘what’s it going to be like?’ A lot of questions have to be answered before we really go ahead.”
Armstrong said there are 15,000 to 30,000 open jobs in North Dakota and this is a great way to grow the state’s economy, helping expand jobs in agriculture.
“This isn’t a question between big dairy and small dairy. This is a question between having dairy farms and not having dairy farms,” Armstrong said.
Riverview Dairy, based in Morris, Minnesota, hopes to build a 25,000-cow dairy farm southeast of Hillsboro and a 12,500-head dairy farm north of Wahpeton making for a significant bump in jobs.
One of the topics the candidates agree on is Measure 5, which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
Piepkorn said he would vote “no” out of respect for law enforcement who he said will have a harder job if the measure passes.
Armstrong will also vote “no.” He said that while opinions on marijuana have changed, he is voting “no” because he has teenage kids.
While they said they won’t vote for Measure 5, both candidates say, as governor, they would not block the law if voters approve it.
Comments