Two legislators from southeastern North Dakotan are seeking Republican support to represent the party on the November ballot in the North Dakota treasurer’s race.

Rep. Thomas Beadle, R-Fargo, and Rep. Daniel Johnston, R-Kathryn, are on the June 9 primary ballot in the Republican column. Due to COVID-19, the North Dakota Republican Party bypassed its traditional endorsement process to select candidates through the primary process.

Beadle and Johnston are seeking the position currently held by Republican Kelly Schmidt, who is not seeking re-election. Mark Haugen, endorsed by the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, is unopposed in the Democrat column on the primary ballot.

Johnston has served in the state House since 2017. His family operates a small farm near Fort Ransom and he works for a construction company. He is a retired disabled veteran, having served in the Army and Army Reserves for 12 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in accounting and religion and a master’s degree in public policy and public administration.

Johnston said his impression during two sessions in the Legislature was that the state needs to practice fiscal restraint.

“My legislative record speaks for itself. I’ve consistently remained true to a strictly constitutional, fiscally conservative governing philosophy,” he said, adding he would bring that mindset to the treasurer’s office. “If I felt an appropriation went beyond our constitutional authority, I would oppose it, and on the flip side, if the spending was constitutionally appropriate, I would prioritize the services.

“Some tough decisions need to be made in this upcoming session with the Legacy Fund and some other various funds. Another thing that most people don’t realize is that the treasurer is sole fiduciary on the Veterans Post-War Trust Fund. That’s another very important position. That’s very important to the veterans in our state, and I would be honored to serve in that capacity as a veteran myself,” he said.

Thomas Beadle, who holds an economics degree, believes his experience with land deals in operating a real estate business for about 12 years will be an asset in representing the treasurer’s office on the State Land Board.

He has served in the state House for the past decade. Public service runs in his family. His grandfather, former House Majority Leader Earl Strinden, served in the Legislature over three decades. His stepfather, Tony Grindberg, also served as a state senator, and his aunt, Michelle Strinden currently serves in the state House.

Beadle has served on the House Appropriations Committee, working with state agency budgets, including that of the treasurer’s office.

“I have a lot of familiarity with what’s going on there,” he said. “There’s some tremendous opportunities for our state – in particular, making sure that we’re protecting our taxpayer dollars and having efficiencies and transparency in state government. The treasurer’s office, by virtue of touching every single dollar that flows through state government, is a great location to focus and get that work done. In addition, as we have more and more conversations about the Legacy Fund, Common Schools Trust Fund, the Land Board and the issues surrounding it, I’ve come to the belief that there’s a lot of opportunities to help move the state forward and have a good stewardship of these resources. I have the background and experience that could really help us out and make sure our taxpayers are well represented there.”

The treasurer sits on the Land Board and various state investment boards. While the office is largely one of financial stewardship, Beadle said, the treasurer is still a voice for the taxpayers.

“They can help shape and weigh in on the public discourse, especially as we’re having those conversations around the Legacy Fund and in some of these major funds,” said Beadle, who has been endorsed by Gov. Doug Burgum.

Johnston, who has been endorsed by outgoing treasurer Schmidt, said he would bring the more conservative fiscal perspective to the six state boards on which the treasurer sits.

“I think we need a conservative on those boards as an influence,” he said.

Johnston added that he has opposed abolishing the office of treasurer. He said costs to taxpayers would increase by eliminating a position accountable to the people and transferring duties to a bureaucracy.

“Our founders put the office of the treasurer in our constitution for a reason,” he said. “It’s a one-stop place where the people of North Dakota can see what’s in our state funds and where it went to. It’s a check and balance on government, and that’s been my message all along. That’s why I’m very much interested in getting into the treasurer’s office and building upon efficiencies and also providing those transparencies to the people.”

In the 2017 Legislature, Beadle supported putting a measure on the state ballot for voters to decide whether to eliminate the office and transfer duties to another office. He said he voted for it at the request of constituents who wanted the chance to vote.

“I’m always willing to have that conversation about how we can bring efficiencies to state government. However, the duties of the treasurer’s office are absolutely essential, and they need to be carried forward, one way or another,” Beadle said.

Beadle would like to make the state’s financial information more accessible and easier for the public to understand by consolidating information in one location rather than have pieces spread across different agency websites.

Johnston sees the treasurer influencing policy through working with legislators and the governor.

“I would look forward to working with the governor,” he said. “That said, I am an independent voice. I wouldn’t hesitate to say no to the governor as well. What’s best for the people is what I honestly desire.”