Representative Belter to seek re-election

District 22 State Representative Wesley Belter, Leonard, has announced he will seek the Republican endorsement for re-election to the North Dakota House of Representatives. He joins Representative Vonnie Pietsch of Casselton who has also announced seeking endorsement for the two House of Representative seats in District 22.

Belter serves as Chairman of the House Finance and Tax committee and he also serves on the House Agriculture Committee. During the legislative interim he is serving on the Finance and Tax committee and the Energy Development and Transmission Committee.

The tax committee studies all issues pertaining to the North Dakota tax system. The energy committee reviews our energy needs as well the needs for electrical transmission lines and petroleum product pipelines.

Representative Belter was first elected in 1984. He currently serves on two committees that were formed to deal with issues of national importance. He serves as treasurer on the board of directors for State Agricultural Rural Leaders. The national organization was created so that state legislators from the fifty states can deal with agriculture and energy issues that are important to their individual states and the United States. Representative Belter also serves on a committee organized by the National Council of State Legislators to look at issues dealing with terrorism. The committee was formed after the 911 attacks.

Belter farms with his son Mark on their fifth-generation family farm at Leonard. Representative Belter is a graduate of North Dakota State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics. He served in the United States Air Force and North Dakota Air National Guard and retired in 1998 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service. Belter is a member of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, North Dakota Farm Bureau, grain commodity groups and the American Legion. He and his wife Judy live on the family farm at Leonard. They have three sons and two granddaughters.

District 22 Republicans will endorse candidates for the 2008 election on March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center in the Central Cass School, Casselton. Representatives Belter, Pietsch and Senator Gary Lee will be in attendance at the endorsement. A number of statewide candidates are also expected to be in attendance.