Rebuffed by District 38 Republican leadership, announced state House candidate Lisa Olson said she is gathering signatures to run on the June 11 primary ballot.

Olson, a Minot City Council member, needs 172 signatures, which is 1% of the district population.

“For many years, I’ve had a desire to serve in the state Legislature. But until I retired, it wasn’t feasible,” said Olson, who spent 30 years in the education field before retiring three years ago. She said the timing appeared right this year. District 38 has an open House seat on the ballot with Rep. Larry Bellew’s resignation and the intention of appointee JoAnne Rademacher not to seek the seat in November.

Olson’s decision to go straight to the primary rather than seek party endorsement came after the district’s executive committee declined to accept her request for local party membership.

Olson said she formerly was a member in the district but had let her dues lapse. She said her recent membership denial was based on a post she made on the nonpartisan Women Lead, Women Run social media page in 2020. Olson said her response in a conversation thread about the lack of Democrats running in District 38 was, “If there are any Democrats in District 38 who are willing to run, please let me know and I’ll get you in contact with the right person.”

She said her post was nonpartisan and meant to be informational in encouraging more women to seek elected office.

“It did not result in any Democrats running for the Legislature in District 38 that year, either,” she said.

District 38 Chairman Roger Neshem said the social media post was a big factor in the 18-0 executive board decision to deny Olson’s membership.

“We don’t need to help the other side, because we are into winning elections,” Neshem said.

While the social media post weighed heavily, Olson’s past history with the district party, her announced intention to run in the primary if not endorsed and party members’ dissatisfaction with the city’s tax decisions were considerations, he added.

Olson was on the District 38 Republican executive committee in 2020 when the social media post was made and was going to be removed, but she resigned, Neshem said. Her resignation letter cited disagreements with other board members, he said.

Olson recalls no formal letter but said she resigned because of time constraints associated with increased demands at work due to COVID-19 and to care for her aging mother. Olson confirmed she said she would run in the primary if not endorsed but her intention was to show her commitment to the House race.

Neshem said the executive committee’s decision has been supported by the district membership.

“I have not received a complaint from anybody about what has gone on. Everybody appreciates the fact that we’re standing up. We have a brand,” he said. “We, as an executive committee, and me, as a chairman, have to defend that brand. We can’t dilute it with just anybody who just thinks they see an opportunity arise politically.”

District 38 Republicans have endorsed Christina Wolff and incumbent Rep. Dan Ruby for the House and incumbent Sen. David Hogue for the Senate.

Olson said she subscribes to the entire Republican Party platform, but her priority is quality education in the state.

“Education is near and dear to my heart, and I think it’s important to a lot of people. So, being able to ensure that all the students in the state of North Dakota have a quality education is important. But I think it’s also important to give parents a choice of a school that they feel is right for their child,” she said. “Both of those issues come up within the state platform, and I think there are bills that can be introduced or that can be action taken at the legislative level that will be able to ensure both of those things.”

She added she would bring an understanding of government financing to the Legislature.

“Prioritization is very important. They have a limited amount of time to accomplish the work that is required of them, and I think I can prioritize not only what is being brought before us as a group but just personally,” she said.

In addition to 14 years on the city council, Olson represents the city on the Souris Basin Planning Council and is active in her church and DKG, an international organization for key women educators.