Lynne Lafer-Halvorson

Lynne Lafer-Halvorson graduated from Pullman High School. She attended Western Washington University and earned a bachelor's degree from Washington State University in 1984. Her career experience includes working as an educator.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

In my lifetime, I've enjoyed many types of jobs, lived in many kinds of places, and known many sorts of people. But I am NOT a Career Politician. I offer new perspectives on the issues we all face and the values I believe we all share.

I was raised in Ohio and Washington State. I come from an academic family -- associated with Washington State University and the local high school.

After graduating from Pullman High School in 1969, I pursued other miscellaneous interests, eventually graduating from Washington State University in 1984, with a Baccalaureate Degree in History and a secondary degree in Education (Secondary Level).

Since that time, I've been married twice -- both times to University professors. I've been a small business owner, a real estate agent, a paraprofessional trauma counselor, a pre-school teacher, the Site Director for a Head Start Program, an on-going substitute teacher in nearly 20 different schools, and retired after 17 years as a middle school classroom teacher on a nearby Reservation.

I have been married for the past 21 years to my current husband, and have one daughter (a medical research scientist and now finishing her doctorate at the University of Minnesota) and a one year-old granddaughter.

I'm seeking office because I know that North Dakota has a super-majority of Republicans that has lost touch with the needs and values of our neighbors. Far too many have been in office for far too long. It's time for a change.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our society and its people deserve the very best that our nation's resources and our own respective talents can provide. I believe in Equitable Opportunity for all abilities and talents. The world does not belong only to the fortunate few. We CAN leverage our Collective Resources to offer those opportunities, and to help our neighbors succeed according to their circumstances. I look for common-sense solutions to complex problems. I believe Leaders are to look for logical strategies, not just pull funds out of our treasuries. Tax-payer money should always be held with respect, and should always serve the Common Good, which includes ALL individuals.We need a Robust Marketplace, a Stable & Expanding Economy, sustainable Family Farms, & Thriving Small Businesses. Our educational system must be well-funded for all student needs, and for teaching, research & community out-reach. Universities must hold the intellectual freedom to encourage philosophical & scientific thought & innovative research. Investments with out-of-state corporations should garner better returns. Seek low-cost housing options for ALL budgets. (Pass permanent Farm Bill; Expand Crop Insurance; Fund Agricultural Research; Restore Export Market; Increase Extraction & Production Taxes; Increase Clean-Up Bonds; Lower Cost of Business & Construction Loans; Expand Housing Incentive Fund).We need a government we can trust, and leaders who understand that with public service comes great responsibility. Our public servants should at all times serve the public, not themselves. Citizens should be confident that their Leaders are conducting themselves honorably. We need to restore a democratic balance to the State Legislature, and Strengthen the State Ethics Commission just as the Voters intended when they included it in the State Constitution. I welcome the opportunity to serve my state and my country with dedication and the strength of my life's experiences and skills. My all-abiding focus will always be, What Is Best for Democracy and ALL of Its People.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Full-Funding for our K-12 Schools; Intellectual Freedom at the University levels; Housing, with focus on Homelessness; Child-Care Availability & Affordability; Strengthening Small Businesses, and Sustaining the Family Farms and Rural Communities.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents (Philip & Marilyn Lafer). Intellectual, hard-working, rarely ever hired people to help them build or re-model--they learned to do it themselves (built three large homes, remodeled several for the children and grandchildren, and helped my first husband & I build a 900 sq-foot log house in an Idaho mountain valley), thrifty, strong family relationships, always looking out for the family, honest and reliable. Very loving with each other and with their children. Fiscally Conservative, but Socially Liberal.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A Public Servant Should Serve the Public, Not Themselves.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I've always prided myself on always being polite, gentle, and honest. I also have amazed myself at how brave I can be about taking on new challenges, even though I'm actually a quiet person who loves a quiet life. My greatest achievement, however, has been my daughter. She is an amazing woman.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Other than for neighborhood baby-sitting, my first job was an Optometrist's Assistant when I was in high school. I can't remember for sure, but it was for no more than two years before I left for college.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Trying to navigate providing for myself and my little girl while being a single-mother with no actual prospects and few resources.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

They should work together for the good of the State and the Common Good. Both are elected by the same voter group. Neither should have more absolute authority than the other. Checks & Balances.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I think it's ultimately going to be 1) Climate Change; 2) Environmental Protection; 3) Preservation of our Public Lands; and 4) The basic civil rights of all groups (women; Native Americans; LGBQT come to mind).

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

It is ABSOLUTELY necessary to work for compromise! It's the only honorable thing to do as a leader. I do not accept what is often called, "The Tyranny of the Majority." It's not always possible on any one given issue, but it should always be the goal.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The North Dakota AFL-CIO

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

I was born in 1951, so I grew up surrounded at any and all social and family get-togethers listening to "Depression Memories" and "War Talk." My own first major historical event, however, was the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I was in Band when we got the news. Our Band Director had been a prominent conductor on Broadway--very sophisticated for our little village--and knew the President personally. He sat down on the dais and cried--in front of us. It was a shocking moment.