Letter: Ryan Taylor, the people's governor

This spring I had the opportunity to hear Ryan Taylor, The Democrat-NPL gubernatorial candidate, speak at the state convention in Fargo. I was very impressed with his intelligence, commitment, and down-to-earth solutions to our state’s continuing problems such as: infrastructure, education, taxes, environment, child care and many other areas of concern.

He is, and will be, the people’s governor. He reminds me of the much-admired former Gov. Art Link, who said that North Dakota’s oil and coal were a one-time harvest, and the benefits must be around when production has ceased or slowed considerably.

Ryan Taylor, a rancher from the Towner area, and his wife, who is from the Watford City area, have three young children. Ryan doesn’t consider himself from either the east or the west — just North Dakota.

Ryan is running against Gov. Jack Dalrymple, the best politician money can buy. He concedes to every demand from the oil companies. Harold Hamm, the CEO of Continental Resources, the largest oil extracting firm in the Bakken, who Forbes magazine lists as the 30th richest individual in the United States, gave Gov. Dalrymple $20,000 for his campaign and said there would be much more if needed.

I do not begrudge Mr. Hamm’s great wealth, nor the millions or billions he is taking from the Bakken, but I do object to him buying the governor of our state.

Please take the time to listen to gubernatorial candidate Ryan Taylor’s exceptional, inspiring speech at the Dem-NPL State convention: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbyCTh0URA.

Jim McLaughlin, Dickinson

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