Submitted Photo Sen. Rich Wardner of Dickinson, left, speaks at a news conference in opposition to a terms limits ballot measure in the state Capitol Wednesday. He is joined by representatives of local chambers of commerce and various other organizations representing agriculture, education, business, energy, medicine and finance.

BISMARCK — Minot Area Chamber EDC joined nearly 25 organizations in Bismarck Wednesday to denounce term limits and urge voters to vote down Constitutional Measure 1 on the state’s general election ballot on Nov. 8.

“We are here today with one voice and want the citizens of North Dakota to take time to learn more about this measure,” said Brekka Kramer, MACEDC president and CEO, who kicked off the press conference in the state Capitol. “This is not about congressional term limits. It is about legislators — fellow citizens who step forward to improve North Dakota — and limiting their ability to do this. We have champions for business that do great things for our state and their experience is invaluable.”

The entities at the news conference represented industries that included agriculture, education, business, construction, energy, medical and credit unions.

“You couldn’t ask for a clearer endorsement of the need for term limits than this press conference,” said North Dakota for Term Limits Chair Jared Hendrix of Minot. “Almost every possible special interest group in the state came out to oppose something that will limit their power and influence.”

In a news release following the event, North Dakota for Term Limits referred to the “unholy combination of prominent lobbyists, special interests and long-serving legislators” in describing the opposition to Measure 1, which would limit state legislators to eight years in the state House and eight years in the state Senate. The governor would be limited to no more than eight years. The measure also adds a new section to the state constitution that provides that term limits cannot be removed or overturned without another ballot measure.

“Our organizations representing businesses across the state are concerned about the consequences should it pass,” said CEO Arik Spencer with the Greater North Dakota Chamber. “Due to mandated turnover, additional time and money will be used to train on procedures and issues. This would impact progress and productivity at the cost of the taxpayers. We are coming forward with a unified voice. Policy isn’t made in a vacuum – it’s responsive and intuitive. We need leaders who are thoughtful and can dig in where appropriate to represent the needs of their constituents, while not feeling the pressure of a countdown clock.”

Aimee Copas, executive director of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, stated that “dedicated and caring legislators who strongly support the best education system possible for our kids are incredibly important to our state and future workforce. Experience in our elected officials at the capital is critical to the future of our youth.”

Russ Hanson, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of North Dakota, called the measure “a solution in search of a problem.” The group noted legislative turnover from 2011 to 2023 is around 72%.

“Legislative term limits will have terrible unintended consequences for the rural citizens of our state, primarily by affecting our ability to find good candidates who will look out for production agriculture,” said Pete Hanebutt, director of policy for the North Dakota Farm Bureau. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association warned that term limits would take power away from elected leaders and empower the bureaucracy.

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, and retiring Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, also spoke against the measure.

Hendrix attributed recent direct mail and radio ads opposing the measure to politicians and lobbyists.

“The entrenched political power brokers in Bismarck are holding onto the status quo and they know voters are tired of them,” he said.

Hendrix said the mindset that it takes decades in government to understand the budget and legislative process results in a small number of people in state government who are gate-keepers of this knowledge. Career politicians put themselves into these positions and tell would-be candidates and freshmen citizen legislators they aren’t smart enough to understand the process, he said.

“The lobbyists and bureaucrats love it this way. They know exactly who to go to in order to get what they want; meanwhile everyday citizens are put on the back burner,” Hendrix said. “This combination of lobbyists and career politicians is the reason that 46,000 North Dakotans signed petitions for term limits for the governor and the Legislature. The voters are tired of the behind-the-scenes cronyism that happens between career politicians and lobbyists, and they want term limits.”