NORTH DAKOTA – The North Dakota Ethics Commission is approving of candidates and state lawmakers using campaign money to care for children, a person with a disability or medical condition and security costs.
The request was made in January by Dem-NPL State Senator Josh Boschee of Fargo.
The Ethics Commission based its ruling on the North Dakota constitution.
The board also cited the shooting deaths of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shootings of State Senator John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette.
Prosecutors say the man charged in the shootings, Vance Boelter, had list of targets, including politicians from several states, but not North Dakota.
However, court documents say 46-year-old Charles Dalzell of St. Thomas, North Dakota emailed a federal prosecutor writing “Now I’m going to be honest with you I don’t want this situation to end up like Minnesota over the weekend do you?”
“It is clear a threat environment exists to public officials across the country, including at the state level in North Dakota,” the Ethics Commission wrote in its decision.
“Given this increased threat environment, candidates and public officials may need to take security measures to ensure their personal safety while engaged in campaigning or public duties.”
“Personal safety has increasingly become a barrier that people cite for not wanting to run for office. While we must continue to be available to our constituents, it’s clear we need to look at ensuring lawmakers’ safety. I think this opinion will help bring peace of mind to folks who want to run,” Boschee wrote in a statement.
For using campaign funds for childcare or a person with a disability or medical condition, the Ethics Commission said candidates and lawmakers can use the money if they can show the expense “resulted from campaign or officeholder activities.”
“Too often, people with children at home think that they can’t run for office, but they’re exactly the kind of folks we need in those decision-making roles. Who understands kitchen table issues better than working moms and dads? This opinion will make it easier for folks in caregiver roles—especially North Dakota moms—to run for office,” Boschee said.
