Tom Skadeland
Tom Skadeland was a 2016 Libertarian candidate for Public Service Commissioner of North Dakota.[1] He was unopposed for the Libertarian nomination. He was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Biography
Skadeland is a third-generation electrician. He has worked at his family's business since he was 14 years old. At the time of the election, he also occasionally worked as a substitute teacher.
Education
2014: Bachelor's of Science in education, Maryville State University
Elections
2016
Skadeland ran as a Libertarian for North Dakota Public Service Commission in 2016. He was unopposed in the Libertarian primary contest and competed with incumbent Julie Fedorchak (R) and Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun (D) in the November 8 general election.[1]
Incumbent Julie Fedorchak defeated Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun and Tom Skadeland in the North Dakota public service commission election.
| North Dakota Public Service Commission, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Julie Fedorchak Incumbent |
68.76% | 218,961 | |
| Democratic/Democrat-Nonpartisan League | Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun | 22.62% | 72,028 | |
| Libertarian | Tom Skadeland | 8.45% | 26,913 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.18% | 563 | ||
| Total Votes | 318,465 | |||
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Tom Skadeland ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary for public service commissioner.
| Libertarian primary for public service commissioner, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Tom Skadeland (unopposed) |
99.62% | 1,051 |
| Write-in votes | 0.38% | 4 |
| Total Votes (432 of 432 precincts reporting) | 1,055 | |
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State | ||
Campaign themes
2016
Skadeland stated on the Libertarian Party of North Dakota website:
| “ | I would like to see all public land in North Dakota returned to former owners. All land that cannot be traced back through tax records would be divided up to shareholders. Through tax records those individuals who have paid the greatest amount in taxation would receive the largest shares of this new available land while receiving first choice of which land they would claim. Then the next individual who has paid the second highest amount in taxation would receive the next largest shares and so on. This would allow the private sector to grow and decrease the reliance on a government program paid by the taxpayers of North Dakota.
Also, the P.S.C. openly admits its involvement in manipulating rates of services. This is a direct interference in the free-market price system. The price system is very important to all businesses because this is how they determine if their business models are successful or not. Prices manipulated by artificial interference, such as government regulation, lead to misinformation to businesses and entrepreneurs. This also leads to misallocation of resources in multiple stages of development. When the P.S.C. participates in rate manipulation this is a form of price-fixing and price-fixing leads to shortages. If elected I will be the only member of the Public Service Commission who truly believes in the free-market system and the right to own property. I will be the only member who truly supports the taxpayers of North Dakota. I will be the only member who will never support eminent domain. I will be the only member who works to abolish my own position.[2][3] |
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See also
| North Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Dakota Secretary of State, "Candidate List," accessed April 14, 2016
- ↑ Libertarian Party of North Dakota, "Thomas Skadeland," accessed June 10, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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