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Vogel registers exploratory committee for Governor

Former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Sarah Vogel has registered an “exploratory committee” with the Secretary of State, as she considers running for the Democratic nomination for Governor.

Vogel says the committee actually came to her.

"They're all people I know, some for years," Vogel said. "They've formed a committee. So what do you do then? And they want to give me money. Really, the only way one can do it appropriately, is to have a registered committee."

Vogel says she’s considering running because of concerns about how the state is being run – especially how the Industrial Commission has been overseeing oil development – and potential environmental impacts. She says the majority of oil companies are good public stewards. However:

"When an oil company doesn't follow the law, and a fine is imposed, the Industrial Commission automatically suspends 90 percent of every fine," Vogel said. "I have, on occasion, over the years been caught speeding. The Highway Patrol officers do not say, 'We have a special policy for one category of speeders, who get 90 percent of their fines automatically forgiven."

Vogel says that’s bad public policy. And she says current Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is part of the problem, because he’s a member of the Industrial Commission. Stenehjem is running for the GOP endorsement for Governor.

"He's the guy who's supposed to be enforcing these laws," Vogel said. "And he's not."

Vogel says her deadline for deciding whether to get in the race is early February, when the Democratic district conventions begin.

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