When voters go to the polls on Nov. 4 they will be deciding races for state treasurer, Department of Public Instruction, auditor and Public Service Commission. Here is a look at the contests.

Treasurer

The race for state treasurer pits Republican incumbent Kelly Schmidt against Democratic-NPL challenger Mitch Vance, a former businessman and educator.

Since taking office in 2005, Schmidt said she has transformed the office that was still using a 1970s-style tax filing system and had no access to the state's e-mail system.

"It was like walking into a time warp," Schmidt said, who added she has updated the office with 21st century technology.

But Vance said more needs to be done because the office isn't transparent enough.

Vance touts his transparency in government reports, which are collections of financial data and analysis he compiles from state departments.

At the League of Women Voters-sponsored forum last month, Vance said the treasury needs to provide taxpayers all the state's financial information in one easy-to-access place: Its Web site.

"The financial information should be as clear as the water in this bottle," Vance said at the forum, holding a water bottle.

Schmidt said the treasury Web site has grown since she took office. It now includes tax distribution figures for the state.

Vance has recently criticized Schmidt for moving a large portion of the veterans' benefits trust fund from a government-backed account into a market-based one. He said the trust fund has lost about $1 million.

Schmidt said she moved the money to a market-based account with Edward Jones because it would diversify the trust fund and potentially make more money. But as stocks continue to slide, Schmidt said the trust fund has lost about 9 percent of its value.

She accused Vance of dirty campaigning and playing on fears during bad economic times. Vance sees it differently.

"I'm campaigning on this and other things that I feel are a lack of performance," Vance said. "Election day is accountability time."

Vance moved to Bismarck from Buffalo, N.Y., in 1993. He is retired, but works in real estate in Bismarck, where he lives with his wife.

Schmidt lives with her husband in Mandan. They have four sons.

DPI

Wayne Sanstead has occupied the office of state superintendent for 24 years, the longest-serving education leader at the state level in the nation.

Max Laird, Sanstead's opponent and a Grand Forks teacher who works with at-risk students, said that's why voters should give him the nod on Nov. 4 over the long-time public servant.

"Today's education is much more nuanced and complicated," Laird, 57, said. "I don't think we're nearly getting what we need from our (education) department in terms of support and communication."

But Sanstead, at 73, said he's been a steady hand over the years.

"I have the energy and certainly the enthusiasm and most certainly the experience to continue giving the educational leadership," he said.

Laird challenged Sanstead in 2004 for the non-partisan post when he earned a letter of support from the Democratic-NPL party, but ultimately lost to Sanstead in a three-way race.

This year Sanstead has the support of the Democrats and Laird is an independent candidate. The Republicans did not support a candidate.

Both candidates agree that No Child Left Behind has its shortcomings, but Laird said Sanstead has not done enough to make it mesh with North Dakota's schools.

"My concern is my opponent hasn't pressed the federal government so that it works for us," Laird said.

Sanstead said he is enforcing the law, which penalizes schools that do not meet standardized testing requirements. He adds that his department is sending a 44-page proposal to Washington to establish an academic achievement model for North Dakota students.

Sanstead's public service career spans nearly a half century, serving 12 years as a state lawmaker and another eight as former Gov. Art Link's lieutenant governor before moving into the DPI. He lives in Bismarck with his wife.

Laird is a teacher at Community High School in Grand Forks where he lives with his wife. He started his career in sport medicine after graduating from Iowa State University.

"I would be an advocate for all kids, but would keep an eye open for at-risk populations," Laird said.

Auditor

Since 1972, someone named Robert Peterson has occupied North Dakota's auditor office. That's something Democratic challenger Daryl Splichal wants to change.

Current state auditor Republican Robert Peterson was first elected to the post in 1996 after succeeding his father - Robert Peterson -who was first elected in 1972.

Before running for office, Splichal spent 27 years at MDU Resources, with 23 of those years as an auditor for the company. It's an experience - and expertise - Splichal said is missing from the current state auditor.

Peterson's background is in accounting.

"Let's have an auditor who's really an auditor," Splichal said, who adds he would involve himself in the auditing process.

Peterson said such a move would create a bottleneck and that he has a staff to conduct the state's audits.

Peterson said many audit managers in his office also have accounting backgrounds while producing effective audits over the years. He notes the 2006 Workforce Safety and Insurance audit that showed a number of problems in that department.

"We're able to produce audits to make government effective and efficient," Peterson said.

Splichal also is critical of Peterson because the state auditor does not directly address legislators regarding the department's audits. Peterson said that's a job for the auditors who draft the reports.

"I've always presented my own budget," Peterson said. "I do allow my managers to present their work. Those audits are their work."

Splichal said his biggest hurdle is name recognition. After all, the office has been occupied by one of two Robert Petersons since 1972.

"Some people may not know if they're voting for the senior Bob or younger Bob," Splichal said, joking.

Splichal lives in Bismarck with his wife and two children. Peterson also lives in Bismarck with his wife and daughter.

PSC

When Susan Wefald said she wasn't going to seek another term as one of North Dakota's public service commissioners, Democrat Cheryl Bergian and Republican Brian Kalk saw an opportunity.

Bergian lost her 2006 bid for the Public Service Commission in a close race and decided to try to earn a seat on the three-member panel again this year. She has worked as an attorney for 20 years, most recently as the director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.

After 20 years working as an attorney, she wants the commission to focus on consumer protection, noting she wants the Legislature to give the PSC more authority to oversee wind turbines and how they're disposed of when no longer operational.

"I have the experience to understand all of the factors that apply," Bergian said.

Kalk spent 20 years in the Marines Corps, retiring as a major in 2007 and he now teaches environmental engineering and political science at North Dakota State University.

He specialized in transportation logistics during his time in the military, a skill set he said makes him qualified for the commission.

"My background experience has been doing things similar to what the commission does," Kalk said, who has worked on pipelines and transportation studies. "I think the biggest difference (between me and my opponent) is I've done this job before."

Bergian said she has dedicated her time to campaigning throughout the state while doing grant writing for non-profits on the side to pay the bills.

Kalk still teaches at NDSU and is eager to emphasize energy independence in his campaign.

"I've done this job before and I teach this stuff and I research this stuff," Kalk said, who served in Desert Storm and the Iraq war.

Kalk lives near Fargo with his wife and teenage daughter. Bergian lives in Fargo with her husband and two of her five stepchildren.