Fever…

Others are excited, too - we talk about it every day. The future of North Dakota - the possibilities - our strengths and weaknesses - how we can all work together to make it all happen. I have clients all over the nation, and it’s interesting to me, as I hold their hands through the current stock market, to hear their concerns. They mirror the same concerns we have for our state. Who do we believe? How do we find crucial balance between pie-in-the-sky and realistic expectations? How do we prosper? I believe in balance - not thinking it’s good to bulldoze everything to the ground and start over, but yet not being content just to let things lay dormant. We don’t want to bulldoze because there are some really good solid foundations. It’s not JUST alternative power development - oil, gas, and coal are our foundation upon which we’ve been standing for centuries. That just doesn’t make sense. But it equally doesn’t make ANY sense to say, “Well, everything is fine just the way it is - let’s not upset the apple cart.” Some things do need updating, we need to keep innovation and possibility in the front of our minds, and that’s exciting, isn’t it? Then we become explorers and adventurers, braving the unknown, but always knowing we’ve got a home to come back to.

As the convention approaches, I’m looking forward to talking with ALL of the delegates in one place. I want to see east and west come together, north and south, central, too. We’re a diverse group, with different dreams and needs, and I’ve heard a great deal of ideas expressed. I know in my heart I will do a great job as North Dakota’s next PSC. Now I just need to keep showing that reality to others.