Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Boucher joins North Dakota Governor's race

Boucher joins North Dakota Governor's race

Jan 23, 2008 - 13:10:08 CST

By DAVE KOLPACK
Associated Press Writer

FARGO - Rep. Merle Boucher's second run for governor will give Democratic convention delegates a choice at the party's April state convention, with the House minority leader taking on Fargo state Sen. Tim Mathern.

Boucher, a Rolette resident who was first elected to the House in 1990, held news conferences in Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck on Tuesday to mark his entry into the race.

He sought the Democratic endorsement for governor in 2004, only to lose to Joe Satrom, a Bismarck businessman and former state senator.

Mathern and Boucher are competing for the right to take on Republican incumbent John Hoeven, who is running for his third four-year term in the job. Hoeven defeated Satrom in 2004 with 71 percent of the vote.

"We're going to do more than hold pep rallies across North Dakota talking about accomplishments and about things that excite people from a standpoint of popularity," Boucher said. "We're going to talk about the nuts and bolts of what needs to be done to move this state forward."

Boucher, 61, is a rancher and former teacher and coach. He said when he campaigned with Democratic candidates in 2006, a number of party activists and "citizens off of the street" wanted him to make another run at the governorship.

Mathern, a director at a Fargo psychiatric hospital and clinic, said Boucher's decision to seek the nomination is "good for democracy" and called the race "two friends working toward the same goal."

Mathern said the contest would not come down to a debate over rural versus urban interests.

"My roots are out in the wheat field," said Mathern, an Edgeley native. "My voting record for rural areas is every bit as strong as Merle Boucher's."

The competition should add interest to the state convention, said Jamie Selzler, the state Democratic director.

"I don't expect anyone else to jump in," Selzler said. "It's certainly possible, but no one else has indicated that it's likely they'll run. I couldn't be more pleased to have Merle join the race. It's good for our party."

Selzler said Mathern should get a lot of support in Fargo, but at least one Fargo Democratic legislator is backing Boucher.

"Merle has enough guts to get his hands dirty," Rep. Steve Zaiser said after Boucher's announcement in Fargo. "I respect Sen. Mathern, but I think Merle can run a more vibrant race. He can challenge Hoeven head to head."

Boucher said he's running because he believes in the "miracle of change," while acknowledging Hoeven's high popularity ratings and a healthy economy, spurred by high prices for oil and farm commodities.

"I can't deny that the economy of North Dakota is strong," Boucher said. "But I am concerned ... that not everyone has shared in that prosperity."

Don Larson, a spokesman for Hoeven's re-election campaign, said Boucher's decision won't change the Republican campaign.

"We're not going to take anything for granted," Larson said. "We're going to go out, remind them what Gov. Hoeven has done, and what he's going to do for the future, including increased funding for education, taking care of seniors and property tax relief."

Asked about Boucher's motto of "miracle of change," Larson said, "I think the majority of North Dakotans feel good about where our state is headed."

Boucher has undergraduate degrees from North Dakota State University-Bottineau and Mayville State University. He has served as the House Democratic leader since the 1997 Legislature.

"I'm not an Ivy Leaguer. I'm not a millionaire," Boucher said. "But I have many, many degrees from the college of life, the university of living."

Mathern, who holds a master's degree in social work from Nebraska and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard in 2000, said he would like to schedule debates against Boucher.

"My primary goal was making sure that we have a choice between candidates in the party," Mathern said. "That goal has been reached."

News > State

Printer friendly version Boucher joins North Dakota Governor's race

Comments

Yay Boucher! wrote on Jan 26, 2008 3:37 PM:

" Time for some common sense in ND government. I would vote for Merle over ANY Republican (and I almost always vote for Republicans). Not any more. Corruption = No Incumbents. "

spending wrote on Jan 25, 2008 7:50 PM:

" I would be willing to bet if Boucher increases spending 600 million dollars a biennium like Hoeven did this biennium, Boucher would even continue to cover immunizations for children. Heads of agencies and Universities who get fired, that would be a better place to cut instead of paying hundreds of thousands to people just to get rid of them. "

Unnecessary: wrote on Jan 23, 2008 8:51 PM:

" Sorry, but comments like "do nothing governor" are not necessary. That is YOUR opinion and I would love to hear what it is based on. If you are a great political figure with great ideas and intact solutions, then you should be above such comments. If you are a ND citizen mad because taxes weren't cut by 100%, then your comment reflects your intelligence. I may not agree with everything everyone does or doesn't do, but I bet if I worked with you, I would probably have occasion to say you are a "do nothing" employee once in a while. I just feel comments like that are low class and a low blow by someone not understanding all the different aspects of government. That's all. "

Joe Citizen wrote on Jan 23, 2008 4:07 PM:

" I am sure that the happiest people to here this announcment are the Rebublicans. "

bg wrote on Jan 23, 2008 12:39 PM:

" Hoeven...a do nothing Governor???....where have you been? John Hoeven has been a great Governor for our state. He is a man of honor, dignity and very intelectual. A wonderful family man who has given so much of himself to public service. I predict he will get more than 71% of the votes this time and embarrass the Democratic party worse than before. The voters of North Dakota will confirm him for another term in another landslide. "

CJBerg wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:19 AM:

" That sounds about right!! Let's elect a Dem for Gov who has already announced his intentions... that being his comittment to spend North Dakota's surplus capital. Some pork, perhaps? More give aways, maybe? He further has commented on how the people of ND are tired of hearing the current "philosophy". Hmmm...what could that mean? So let's be sure to elect Boucher, so we are assured the honor of joining the ever increasing number of tax and spend states who operate in the red! Why to go Boucher... keep talking. "

Go Merle wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:21 AM:

" I think Merle can do this. I didn't think Hoeven was vulerable a couple of months ago but he has shown an acute lack of leadership during this whole WSI debacle. "

We need change wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:17 AM:

" Merle is right. ND needs change. Hoeven is a do-nothing governor. Merle and Tim would be great governors. "

What? Not Again! wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:12 AM:

" This old tax and spender cannot even recognize reality when it stares him in the face. Way to go, Dems! Another try for the governor's office down the drain! "

Campaign Idea wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:03 AM:

" Write a nasty letter to Farm & Ranch Guide or ND Outdoors about the way they portray ND. That will get people's attention. ;-) "

Now Run a Real Campaign wrote on Jan 23, 2008 9:30 AM:

" Many people didn't even know who was running against Hoeven in 2004, right up until election day. Mathern has announced but I have heard little from him since. If the Dem's are going to make a real run at winning this office, let's see a real campaign! "

Go Merle wrote on Jan 23, 2008 7:19 AM:

" You have my support, you should have had the nomination in 2004 but the dems were too dumb to give it to you. I hope the Dem-NPL does not make the same mistake this time around. I am one of those "citizens on the street" and wish you the best. I have worked with Merle at the legislature making meaningful change and know the he will make a great governor. "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.