Lafer-Halvorson announces candidacy for District 35
Bismarck, ND — Bismarck resident, Lynne Lafer-Halvorson, has announced she is seeking the Democratic-NPL Party’s endorsement for the State House of Representatives from District 35 at the Party’s Region 6 District Conventions on February 7 in Bismarck.
“My decision to seek office is driven by my awareness of the economic struggles faced by ordinary people in their everyday lives,” Lafer-Halvorson said. “We need to address our concerns for public school education, the loss of family farms, difficulties facing small businesses, and the adequacy of health services in rural North Dakota. We also must ensure transparency and appropriate oversight on matters of ethical conduct in this state, as well as examine the role being played by big money in our state’s policymaking.”
She said her extensive background working in diverse areas has given her a firsthand understanding of some of the challenges people face. As a formerly divorced single mother, she personally experienced the difficulties of finding affordable housing, providing health care, and meeting daily needs. As a counselor to abused, homeless, and emotionally disturbed children, she developed deep empathy for those facing extreme poverty.
Lafer-Halvorson has extensive experience in education and public service. She taught for nearly 30 years in five states as a public school classroom teacher, including most recently for 18 years on the Standing Rock Reservation where she also served as a Head Start site director. She also was a real estate agent, and founded and owned a residential cleaning service for 11 years. She has also been a child daycare provider and a foster parent, and has served as departmental executive secretary at several universities, in addition to having roles as a waitress, optometrist’s assistant, and theatre publicist.
She has a bachelor’s degree in history and German, with a secondary degree in education, from Washington State University.
She is married to Gary Halvorson, a retired research scientist and college professor, and has one adult daughter and one grandchild.