MINOT, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Souris Valley Dem-NPL is announcing three candidates for the state legislature in District 3. Michael Theisen, Natalie Mclaughlin, and Tara Hiatt are focused on the issues that impact the everyday lives of people in District 3.
Michael Theisen is running for the District 3 Senate. He is the current mayor of Surrey, North Dakota. In that experience and other experiences on the city council, he seeks to re-focus issues at the state legislature to policies that impact people’s lives. “Living and working in North Dakota for all my life has taught me that the lives of my neighbors
play a very important role in my own. Their needs directly impact the needs of my own family. The cost of education, the price of beef in our local grocery stores, and the rising expense to run local government are struggles we share. These are issues I know inside and out. Our local representatives in Bismarck are falling short in their efforts to help with those needs. They have clogged the halls of the capitol with issues that hinder the real work that needs to be done to help the residents of this state. My experiences in the local city council and as mayor have taught me that I can work with everyone to meet the needs of our community. I want to bring that effort to the capital and do the
work that needs to be done.”
Natalie Mclaughlin is running for the District 3 House of Representatives. She is a career paramedic who has spent the last 15 years serving communities in the northwest corner of North Dakota. Through that experience, she is highly aware of the difficulties North Dakotans face in healthcare. “When you work in emergency medicine, you learn that when people need help, you don’t stand by and watch — you step in and take action. For those who don’t know me, my name is Natalie Mclaughlin. For the past 15 years, I’ve lived and worked across northwest North Dakota as a career paramedic. I’ve had the privilege of being there for families on some of their hardest days and advocating for them. Through that work, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly a medical emergency can become a financial crisis — how rising healthcare costs, insurance red tape, and the loss of rural services are affecting everyday North Dakotans, from older generations to young families. I’m also the mother of a college-age son who grew up helping care for land his family homesteaded generations ago. Today he’s pursuing his dream of becoming a large-equine veterinarian while simultaneously serving in the Army National Guard. His dream is to bring that education home and help rebuild that family farm. Like so many parents, we want our kids to have the chance to pursue their dreams — and like most of us to be able to see them fulfill those dreams right here in North Dakota, by giving them more options & opportunities. Living in Minot through the flood and watching our community rebuild taught me something about who we are as North Dakotans. No matter what national politics may try to do to divide us, here we are neighbors first. We connect through what we have in common, (for no North Dakotan has ever met a stranger) and when we put aside nonsense, step in and get to work, we get things done.
And right now, that means standing up for North Dakotans — fighting for access to healthcare, holding insurance companies accountable, and making sure our natural resources and trade industries are utilized to serve the future of our communities, not just outside interests. To listen to those ‘in the arena’ on how we grow and secure North Dakota’s future stability. To not stand by and do nothing, or let wedge ideologies bring us back to the past. So, today, I’m proud to announce that I’m running for House of Representatives for District 3. If we focus on practical solutions and remember we are neighbors first, I sincerely believe we can build an even stronger future for our district and for North Dakota.”
Tara Hiatt is running for the District 3 House of Representatives. She has had a career spanning the Bakken oil field and the North Dakota University System. Tara is passionate about ensuring the next generation with the tools they need to succeed. Her journey provides her with experience and knowledge of how to go about tackling the issue. “North Dakota isn’t just where I live — it’s where I raise my family and work. I’ve spent my days in the oil field, seeing exactly how our energy sector powers the nation, and I’ve spent my time in the state university system, ensuring our next generation is ready to enter the workforce. This “boots-to-books” perspective gives me a unique understanding of what our district needs. I know the value of a hard day’s work and the necessity of a smart, long-term vision. North Dakota deserves representation from people who have a stake in its citizens’ wealth and quality of life, and who will use their position to get their constituents’ voices heard.”
