Piepkorn Outlines Policy Stance

(Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) -Merrill Piepkorn says he believes his experience telling the stories of everyday North Dakotans and passing on his joy and optimism for the state is part of why he’d be a successful governor.

Some North Dakotans may be familiar with Piepkorn more for his music than his policy positions, but the Democratic-NPL candidate for governor, in an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Piepkorn shared his views on abortion, funding priorities and taxes.

Piepkorn has represented the Fargo area in the state Senate since 2017, but fans of the airwaves may know him as a former Prairie Public radio personality, a position he held from 2000 to 2016.

He is running against North Dakota’s Republican U.S. House Rep. Kelly Armstrong and independent candidate Michael Coachman for the state’s highest office, which is open after Gov. Doug Burgum declined to run for a third term.

Piepkorn said the Legislature doesn’t have “any business” being involved with personal, and difficult, reproductive health care decisions between a woman and her doctor.

“I am not pro-abortion,” he said. “I am not out promoting abortion … Nobody is out promoting abortion. It’s a tough, personal decision.”

Piepkorn added he hoped women would talk to their partner, family or close friends about their decision, but groups they should never have to talk to about it are lawmakers or law enforcement.

He also said the state Attorney General’s Office should not waste state money defending the state’s abortion ban in the courts.

Spending priorities and Measure 4

Piepkorn said he believes there will be a push to eliminate all income tax in North Dakota during the next legislative session, even for high income earners, which he does not support. That, combined with Measure 4, which would eliminate assessed value property taxes, would put the next governor in a difficult position to try to find funding to help balance the state’s budget.

“Hopefully, Measure 4 will not pass,” he said.

If the measure fails, Piepkorn said he would push for increased spending on public education because he believes that would help school districts relieve some pressure on the need for increasing school property tax levies.

“It could amount to several hundred million dollars,” Piepkorn said.

Piepkorn also said he supports continuing and expanding the primary residence tax credit from a one-time $500 refund to an annual $1,000 payment.

If Measure 4 passes, Piepkorn said the state is going to need to make cash available quickly to replace revenue collected from property taxes.

“It might take some action of the Legislature to loosen up more than the earnings of the Legacy Fund, but perhaps it could help cover it for a certain amount of time,” Piepkorn said.

He said options might include reimplementing income taxes that were reduced during the 2023 legislative session; eliminating the Prairie Dog funds that are allocated to local subdivisions for infrastructure; or implementing a statewide sales tax, which he opposes.

“This is one of the most regressive – sales tax – because it affects the poor as well,” he said. “It would be a real struggle.”

Piepkorn said he supports increasing funding for mental health, addiction and alcohol services, especially in the western part of the state.

“My thinking is that a primary root of problems, whether they be crime, or drunk driving, or just kind of unexplainable acts of violence or law breaking, is due to mental illness or addiction to alcohol and drugs,” Piepkorn said.

He said it’s the job of the state to help address these problems, which can burden taxpayers more than mental health services and treatment programs.

Being governor

Piepkorn said part of serving as governor is being a “cheerleader” for the state and communicating the successes and struggles of its residents.

He said having strong arts programs is important for the state and touted the city of Ellendale’s restoration project aimed at restoring its operahouse.

He emphasized the need for a governor to be a good storyteller to share the state’s history and create a connection to that history for every North Dakotan.

His production company, Prairie Airwaves Inc., which includes his band, The Radio Stars, and other film, radio and television projects, has a mission statement that he has always tried to live by.

“Bring joy into people’s lives, uplifting their spirits wherever we go,” Piepkorn said. “And that’s the kind of attitude I intend to bring to the governor’s office too.”