Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/keith_kempenich
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Keith Kempenich (b. July 28, 1959) is a Republican member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 39. He was first elected to the chamber in 1992.

Kempenich attended Black Hills State in 1980. His professional experience includes working as a rancher, as a crop adjuster and as the owner of Box K Trucking.

Education

  • Attended, Black Hills State University, 1980

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Black Hills State University, 1980
  • Claims Adjustor, NAU Country Insurance Company, 1989-present
  • Owner, Box K Trucking

Political Experience

  • Attended, Black Hills State University, 1980
  • Claims Adjustor, NAU Country Insurance Company, 1989-present
  • Owner, Box K Trucking
  • Representative, North Dakota State Assembly, 1992-present
  • Candidate, North Dakota State House of Representatives, District 39, 2018

Current Legislative Committees

Vice Chair, Appropriations Committee

Member, Budget Section

Member, Joint Committee on Legacy Fund Earnings

Member, Joint Review Committee on Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review

Chair, Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board

Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Black Hills State University, 1980
  • Claims Adjustor, NAU Country Insurance Company, 1989-present
  • Owner, Box K Trucking
  • Representative, North Dakota State Assembly, 1992-present
  • Candidate, North Dakota State House of Representatives, District 39, 2018
  • Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  • Member, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
  • Member, Farm Bureau
  • Member, Farmers Union
  • Member, Lions Club
Policy Positions

North Dakota State Legislative Election 1998 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer

7. Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- No Answer

8. Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
- No Answer

9. Other
- No Answer

10. Should North Dakota government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No

Affirmative Action

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

1. College and university admissions
- No

2. Public employment
- No

3. State contracting
- No

4. Other
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- No Answer

3. End parole for repeat violent felons.
- X

4. Support the use of the death penalty.
- X

5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer

6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

7. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X

8. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer

9. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

10. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- X

11. Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- X

12. Lower the blood alcohol content limit defining drunk driving.
- No Answer

13. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- X

14. Prohibit open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles.
- X

15. Other
- No Answer

Economy and Employment

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

1. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X

3. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- X

4. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

5. Other
- No Answer

6. Do you support allocating all livestock brand inspection and registration fees to the North Dakota Stockman's Association?
- Yes

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- No Answer

2. Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- X

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- No Answer

4. Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

5. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X

6. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer

7. Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
- No Answer

8. Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
- No Answer

9. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- X

10. Other
- No Answer

11. Should some of North Dakota's public colleges and universities be closed in order to reduce the state budget?
- Undecided

12. Do you support "pooling" North Dakota's state college funds and giving the Board of Higher Education the authority to allocate the funds?
- Undecided

13. Do you support raising out-of-state tuition at North Dakota state universities?
- Undecided

Environment & Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
- No Answer

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- X

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- X

4. Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
- X

5. Provide funding for recycling programs in North Dakota.
- No Answer

6. Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- X

7. Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- X

8. Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
- No Answer

9. Other
- No Answer

10. State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
- Yes

11. Do you support managing the flood crisis in Devil's Lake by using state funds to build a channel diverting water to Stump Lake?
- Undecided

Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.

Do you support limits on the number of terms of the following North Dakota officials?

1. State Senators and Representatives
- No

2. Governor
- No

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

1. Individual
- No

2. PAC
- No

3. Corporate
- No

4. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

5. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No

6. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No

7. Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes

8. Other
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer

2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

3. Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- X

4. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

5. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
- No Answer

6. Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- No Answer

7. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
- No Answer

8. Other
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

1. Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
- X

2. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- No Answer

3. Provide health care to uninsured children by designing a children's health insurance program.
- X

4. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

5. Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
- No Answer

6. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

7. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- X

8. Other
- No Answer

9. Should physicians licensed in other states be required to obtain a North Dakota medical license in order to practice in the state?
- Undecided

Social

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- No Answer

2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- No Answer

3. Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
- No Answer

4. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- No Answer

5. Favor banning smoking in public places.
- No Answer

6. Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
- X

7. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

8. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- X

9. Urge the federal government to relax travel regulations on Canadian visitors traveling to North Dakota.
- X

10. Other
- No Answer

11. Do you believe that the North Dakota government should include sexual orientation in North Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

12. Do you believe that the North Dakota government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No

State Budget

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

1. Agriculture
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase

3. Education (Higher)
- Maintain Status

4. Environment
- Maintain Status

5. Health care
- Maintain Status

6. Law enforcement
- Maintain Status

7. Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
- Slightly Increase

8. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease

9. Other
- No Answer

10. Do you support increasing funds to the North Dakota Emergency Management Agency to replace all the flood and tornado warning systems?
- Undecided

State Taxes

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

1. Alcohol Taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Gas taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Maintain Status

7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Maintain Status

8. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

9. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

10. Other
- No Answer

11. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- Undecided

12. Do you support the current telecommunications tax in North Dakota?
- Undecided

Welfare

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Maintain the five-year limit on welfare benefits.
- X

2. Require that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
- X

3. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

4. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- X

5. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- X

6. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer

7. Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
- No Answer

8. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- X

9. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- X

10. Other
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- No Answer

State Bills