Bismarck Tribune

By LAUREN DONOVBy LAUREN DONOVAN

Folks in Oliver County might hear John Mahoney knocking on their door twice this year.

Mahoney, a 28-year state's attorney for the county, finds himself waging two campaigns rather than the one he expected.

Mahoney is up for re-election in the county, and for the first time in 24 years, he has an opponent on the ballot.

Mike Liffrig, best known for his run against Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., two years ago, was initially surprised to find himself in position on the ballot for state's attorney.

He lives in the southeast corner of Oliver County in a rural subdivision not far from the Morton County line.

Liffrig said he was drafted in the primary in a secret write-in campaign. He didn't know he'd collected the necessary 22 votes to be Mahoney's opponent until he got a letter of notification from the Oliver County auditor after the June election.

"I was totally surprised," Liffrig said. He could have declined the opportunity but chose instead to run, he said.

Now, Mahoney finds himself campaigning both for the state's attorney post he's held since beating Orville Schulz back in 1978 and for the District 33 spot against incumbent Sen. Randy Christmann, of Hazen.

Mahoney said he's always believed people should have a choice in elections.

So facing off against Liffrig to be the prosecutor for Oliver County "is not contrary to my philosophy," he said.

Mahoney said he hopes people know and appreciate his work as a county prosecutor and legal adviser after nearly three decades.

He said the past several years have been busy in his office, with the gamut of drug-related crimes up to a violent rape charge.

"I try to treat everyone completely fair, and I believe people are redeemable," Mahoney said.

Liffrig has been a lawyer since 1985 and has worked independently as a jury consultant.

He said he'd like to win the position and see Oliver County prosper with wind and energy projects and help the county deal with the challenge of new people coming in.

The Oliver County state's attorney position is part time and pays $30,000 annually.

Liffrig still has about $110,000 in campaign debt to retire and is paying it off as he goes, he said.

Liffrig and his wife, Julie, have nine children and home-school their family.

Mahoney and his wife, Ann, have four grown children and a private law practice in Center.

Mahoney said Ann Mahoney can help carry the legal load if he wins the Senate seat, similar to when he was a District 33 representative, up until losing to Gray Kreidt, of New Salem, four years ago.