TOWNER, ND — Agriculture Commissioner candidate Ryan Taylor today called on his opponent to accept up to a dozen debates over the next six months. The two candidates took part in a debate hosted by the North Dakota Newspaper Association on May 1. Goehring has not yet agreed to take part in any further debates.

“The level of interest generated by the first debate shows that voters want to hear from their candidates for Agriculture Commissioner,” said Taylor.

“North Dakotans deserve a public dialogue about issues dealing with our state’s number one industry. And with the Agriculture Commissioner’s seat on the Industrial Commission, it’s no surprise that voters want to hear candidates talk about oil and gas development and the issues where oil and agriculture intersect. It’s not just agriculture and oil under the purview of our Agriculture Commissioner, either. Responsibilities range from overseeing student loans and housing finance, to water issues and the outdoors. Voters deserve to hear how each of us will manage a large department with such a wide array of interests.”

Taylor added, “North Dakotans expect transparency from their candidates for public office. It is the responsibility of the candidates to provide that transparency. As I said during our first debate, I would be happy to have a dozen debates to discuss the issues that have such a profound impact on our state. I ask Mr. Goehring to join me so that the voters can compare and contrast the two of us as candidates and as leaders. It’s not just a four-year term we’re talking about here. Voters are electing someone who will make decisions that will impact our state for generations to come.”

Taylor accepted an invitation to take part in a debate being hosted by the Northwest Landowners Association on Ag Day at the North Dakota State Fair. Goehring has not yet agreed to accept his invitation. Taylor also recommended some possible venues and hosts for future debates, among these are:

Venue: Red River Valley Fair
Venue: Big Iron Farm Show
Venue: Four live statewide television and/or radio debates
Venue: Local food cooperatives in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks
Hosts: Statewide farm organizations and commodity/grower/livestock groups
Host: North Dakota Student Association
Host: League of Women Voters

ABOUT RYAN TAYLOR. Ryan Taylor, the endorsed North Dakota Democratic-NPL candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, is a businessman and fourth-generation rancher. The Taylor Ranch, near Towner, has been in the family for over a century. Taylor lives there with his wife, Nikki, and their three young children. From 2002 to 2012, Taylor served in the North Dakota Senate where he served on the Agriculture Committee. He was Senate Minority Leader from 2010 to 2012 and was the North Dakota Democratic-NPL nominee for governor in 2012. Taylor currently serves as a McHenry County Commissioner. He is a member of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, a trustee of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, a Bush Foundation Fellow, and sits on the board of directors for Hartland Mutual Insurance and Metigoshe Ministries. Taylor holds degrees in Agricultural Economics and Mass Communications from NDSU.

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From: Dem-NPL News