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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Tim Mathern is a Democratic member of the North Dakota State Senate, representing District 11. He was first elected to the chamber in 1986. Mathern has previously served as Senate Minority Leader and Assistant Senate Majority Leader.

Mathern ran for treasurer of North Dakota in the 2016 elections. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. He was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.


Mathern earned his B.A. in Sociology from North Dakota State University in 1971, his M.S.W. from the University of Nebraska in 1980 and his M.P.A. from Harvard University in 2000. His professional experience includes working as a child welfare caseworker, as the supervisor of social services with Catholic Family Service and as the director of public policy for Prairie Saint John's.

Education

  • Licensed, Certified Social Worker, North Dakota, 1984-2018
  • MPA, Management, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 1999-2000
  • MPA, Public Administration, Harvard University, 1999-2000
  • MSW, Child Welfare and Administration and Child Welfare, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1978-1980
  • BA, Sociology/Philosophy, North Dakota State University, 1968-1971

Professional Experience

  • Licensed, Certified Social Worker, North Dakota, 1984-2018
  • MPA, Management, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 1999-2000
  • MPA, Public Administration, Harvard University, 1999-2000
  • MSW, Child Welfare and Administration and Child Welfare, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1978-1980
  • BA, Sociology/Philosophy, North Dakota State University, 1968-1971
  • VISTA Supervisor, Prairie Roots Community Fund, 2018-present
  • Director, Public Policy, Prairie Saint John's Hospital, 2006-present
  • Development Director/Administrator, Catholic Family Services, 1994-present
  • Administrator, Church of Nativity, 2000-2006
  • Social Worker/Director, Catholic Family Services, 1972-1999

Political Experience

  • Licensed, Certified Social Worker, North Dakota, 1984-2018
  • MPA, Management, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 1999-2000
  • MPA, Public Administration, Harvard University, 1999-2000
  • MSW, Child Welfare and Administration and Child Welfare, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1978-1980
  • BA, Sociology/Philosophy, North Dakota State University, 1968-1971
  • VISTA Supervisor, Prairie Roots Community Fund, 2018-present
  • Director, Public Policy, Prairie Saint John's Hospital, 2006-present
  • Development Director/Administrator, Catholic Family Services, 1994-present
  • Administrator, Church of Nativity, 2000-2006
  • Social Worker/Director, Catholic Family Services, 1972-1999
  • Senator, North Dakota State Senate, 1986-present
  • Former Senate Minority Leader, North Dakota State Senate
  • Former Assistant Senate Majority Leader, North Dakota State Senate
  • Candidate, North Dakota State Senate, District 11, 2018
  • Candidate, State Treasurer, State of North Dakota, 2016
  • Candidate, Governor, State of North Dakota, 2008

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Human Services Committee, North Dakota State Assembly

Former Member, Transportation Committee, North Dakota State Assembly

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations Committee

Member, Budget Section

Member, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Joint Review Committee

Member, Ethics Committee

Member, Joint Committee on Health Care

Member, Joint Committee on Human Services

Member, Rules Committee

Member, School of Medicine and Health Sciences Advisory Council

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Licensed, Certified Social Worker, North Dakota, 1984-2018
  • MPA, Management, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 1999-2000
  • MPA, Public Administration, Harvard University, 1999-2000
  • MSW, Child Welfare and Administration and Child Welfare, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1978-1980
  • BA, Sociology/Philosophy, North Dakota State University, 1968-1971
  • VISTA Supervisor, Prairie Roots Community Fund, 2018-present
  • Director, Public Policy, Prairie Saint John's Hospital, 2006-present
  • Development Director/Administrator, Catholic Family Services, 1994-present
  • Administrator, Church of Nativity, 2000-2006
  • Social Worker/Director, Catholic Family Services, 1972-1999
  • Senator, North Dakota State Senate, 1986-present
  • Former Senate Minority Leader, North Dakota State Senate
  • Former Assistant Senate Majority Leader, North Dakota State Senate
  • Candidate, North Dakota State Senate, District 11, 2018
  • Candidate, State Treasurer, State of North Dakota, 2016
  • Candidate, Governor, State of North Dakota, 2008
  • Advisor, North Dakota Medicaid Advisory Committee, 2018-present
  • Americorps Vista Supervisor, Prairie Roots Community Fund, 2018-present
  • President, Prairie Roots Community Fund, 2017-present
  • Governor Appointee, Corporation for National and Community Service, 2010-present
  • President, Board of Directors, Prairie Roots Food Cooperative, 2009-present
  • Director, Bush Foundation Board, 2006-present
  • Treasurer, Clara Barton Neighborhood Association, 2005-present
  • Director, Wellspring for the World Board, 2005-present
  • Member, Advisory Board, University of North Dakota Medical School, 2003-present
  • President, Kaleidoscope, Children's Service, 2001-present
  • Member, National Association of Social Workers, 1980-present
  • Member, Lend a Hand, Dakota Medical Foundation, present
  • Member, Advisory Council, Council of State Governments Health and Human Service
  • Member, Board of Directors, Charism Community Center
  • Member, Board of Directors, Fargo-Cass County Economic Development Corporation
  • Member, Brain Injury Advisory Committee
  • Member, Center for Rural Health Advisory
  • Member, Charism Family Resource Center
  • Member, Council of States Government Health Capacity Task Force
  • Board Member, Faith Based and Community Initiatives
  • Member, Judicial Conduct Committee
  • Member, Judiciary Standards Committee
  • Member, Mental Health Association
  • Board Member, Metropolitan Youth Partnership
  • Board Member, National and Community Service
  • Member, National Association of Social Workers
  • Member, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
  • Member, North Dakota Health Task Force
  • Member, North Dakota Welfare Reform Task Force
  • Chair, Prairieland Home Care
  • Member, Prairie Roots Food Cooperative
  • Member, Suicide Prevention Coalition
  • Intern Supervisor, University of North Dakota School of Social Work
  • Member/Administrator, Church of the Nativity, 2000-2007
  • Member, Board of Directors, Villa Nazareth, 2005-2006
  • Fellow, Bush Leadership, 1998-2000
  • Member, Volunteers in Service to America, University Year for ACTION, 1972-1973

Other Info

— Awards:

  • ND Psychiatric Society 2011 Mental Health Service Award

Legislator of the Year-

  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving
  • For efforts in helping to support and advance the mission of MADD
  • National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems Advocacy Award, 2009

    Courage Award, North Dakota Peace Coalition.

    Names of Grandchildren:

    Sam, Mila, Jack, Fresia, Blais, Marie, Alice, Olive, Milo

    • 5

    Reason for Seeking Public Office:

    Service

    Policy Positions

    North Dakota State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

    Abortion & Reproductive

    1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
    - Pro-life

    2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - My primary legislative efforts in this issue area are to increase services and support to women, children, and families so as to decrease the number of abortions.

    Budget, Spending, & Tax

    Budget Stabilization:

    Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing North Dakota's budget.

    1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
    - No

    2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
    - No

    3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
    - No

    4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
    - No Answer

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - Taxes need to be balanced between three different types of tax, income, sales, and property. Right now the residential property taxes are too high.

    Campaign Finance & Government Reform

    1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
    - Yes

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - A photo identification should be easily available and if not available an alternative means of verifiable identification should be deemed acceptable for voting.

    Crime & Public Safety

    1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
    - No

    2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
    - No Answer

    3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
    - No

    4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
    - Yes

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - Legalization of marijuana needs to have proper safeguards in place. Proper implementation of medicinal marijuana needs to be in place.

    Economic

    1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
    - No Answer

    6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of North Dakota?
    - Yes

    7. Do you support reducing regulations on industrial livestock farming in North Dakota?
    - No

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - It depends on which benefit.

    Education

    1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in North Dakota?
    - No

    2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
    - No

    3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from North Dakota high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
    - No Answer

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - It dependfs on the reason they are here and their plans for citizenship and employment.

    Environment & Energy

    1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Gun

    1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
    - No Answer

    2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
    - Yes

    3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
    - No Answer

    4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
    - No Answer

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - These are complicated issues requiring more detail of the specific legislation. Essentially I support safe use of guns.

    Health

    1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through North Dakota's health care programs?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
    - No

    5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
    - No

    6. Do you support increasing state funding for mental health initiatives?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Social

    1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in North Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in North Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support greater efforts by North Dakota state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Legislative Priorities

    In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
    - I support the completion of Fargo permanent flood protection, lowering of property taxes and proper funding of education and health services. A balance of taxes including oil and gas tax and use of the interest of the Legacy Fund.

    State Bills
    Speeches

    Letter to Constituents

    Oct. 14, 2008Letter

    Letter to Constituents

    Oct. 8, 2008Letter
    Articles

    The Dakota Student - Mathern Aims for Top State Gov. Spot

    Oct. 24, 2008

    The Dakota Student - Mathern Aims for Top State Gov. Spot Veteran of state senate campaigns for health care, student issues, more. Ryan Johnson North Dakota voters will choose their governor and lieutenant governor in the November election. This year's race features Republican Governor John Hoeven running again for a third term, with Democratic candidate Tim Mathern and Independent candidate DuWayne Hendrickson challenging the incumbent. Democratic-NPL Tim Mathern has served on the state senate for the last 22 years. He became the first person in his family to graduate from college after receiving his degree from North Dakota State University. Mathern went on to earn a masters degree in social work from the University of Nebraska, and later earned a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University at the age of 50. For 27 years, he worked at Catholic Family Service/Catholic Charities, and is currently working at Prairie St. John's Hospital in Fargo. Health care Mathern said that he has worked throughout his time as a senator to address health care issues in the state. He put together a bill in the 1990s that attempted to provide more resources for pregnant women and new mothers in order to ensure they would have the proper resources to help them. He said that he wanted to help resolve as much as possible some of the main reasons why women chose to get abortions. The bill addressed health care for pregnant women, proper care for children, daycare services, family life education services as well as child support issues. It was passed, something he said was a proud moment in his career since the subject of abortion tend to be divisive and controversial. "When I look back, I would say that's probably pretty close to the top of the list - creating a bill where people on both sides of an issue and both parties work together to actually do something positive," he said. Student issues According to Mathern, he has been addressing student issues during his senate career as well. He said that sticking to his principles has meant that he supports policies that help everyone obtain a quality education. "I pretty much vote quickly on all of the issues," he said. "I say if you've got your basic values down, really it isn't that difficult."One of his plans if elected is to create a tuition repayment program for students that start or business or work in North Dakota after their graduation from a state school. Under his plan, one-eighth of a graduate's tuition cost total would be given back to them as an income tax credit every year for up to eight years. He said this plan would use the income tax system rather than developing new government bureaucracy. Mathern added that it's important for the state to be innovative in providing incentives for students to live in the state after their graduation. He estimated that the plan would cost $11 million for the first year and the funding would come from the general fund. Even though this is a large amount of money, Mathern said that the indirect benefit of keeping the students here would far outweigh the costs. "It has great potential to basically say to our young people, here is a reason to stay," he said. "We give our young people so many reasons to leave." According to Mathern, North Dakota has become a low-wage state that may attract some companies but end up underpaying workers. He said that efforts by Governor John Hoeven to get new companies to the state are sending the wrong message to college students that would like to remain in the area after graduation. "I don't think we should give millions and millions of dollars to create jobs that are low-paying," he said. "I just think that's counterproductive." He also supports proposals for a two-year tuition freeze and increases in grants to students. "As far as I'm concerned, this is all an investment and this is all good news for North Dakota," he said. Election goals Mathern said that he would remain focused on health care as a top priority if elected. His plans call for providing coverage for the 15,000 uninsured people between the ages of 1 and 21 by extending an existing program called Healthy Steps. Under current arrangements, the federal government reimburses North Dakota $.74 to the dollar for money it spends on insuring its young people. Mathern said the current eligibility cap of 150 percent of poverty level should be removed in order to open up access to the benefits. "This is not a costly program ... it's taking what's already available to us and extending it to everybody, not just some folks," he said. He said that he would also work to promote wellness and prevention efforts that can reduce future health issues and therefore lower health care costs by up to $2 billion in North Dakota. Upgrading rural hospital infrastructure and creating an income-based health insurance plan for adults are also top health care priorities, he said. Lifelong Rolette, N.D. resident Merle Boucher is Mathern's running mate, and has been leader of the House Democratic caucus since 1996. Boucher taught at Rolette High School for 20 years and is also a farmer. He attended NDSU-Bottineau and Mayville State University, and earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education. The other two candidates, John Hoeven and DuWayne Hendrickson will be featured in Tuesday's edition.

    The Emmons County Record - Sen. Tim Mathern Campaigns in County

    Oct. 15, 2008

    The Emmons County Record - Sen. Tim Mathern Campaigns in County State Sen. Tim Mathern of Fargo, the Democratic-NPL candidate for Governor, campaigned in Emmons County on Friday. He said growing up on a farm near Edgeley and having roots in Emmons County have kept him sensitive to rural issues at a time when the State Legislature is increasingly dominated by lawmakers from the larger cities, namely Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot. "I tell people that there would be no Fargo or Bismarck without farmers and small town people," Mathern said. "Preserving and enhancing the rural economy benefits all of North Dakota, not just farmers and rural communities." He said he is concerned that there are so few young people involved in farming, and he would like to see more done to stabilize and build family farm agriculture. Mathern, contrasting himself to Republican incumbent Gov. John Hoeven, said North Dakota needs better state leadership to develop wind energy. He said North Dakota is running behind other states in the region, noting that Minnesota has three times more wind energy than North Dakota. He argued that a "limited vision" hurts alternative energy development whether it be wind or bio-fuels. "Developing wind energy and bio-fuels would re-population rural North Dakota," Mathern said. He favors farmer- or community-owned wind towers so that the money from the sale of electricity stays in the community rather than going to out-of-state corporations. Mathern said he would provide the leadership to get North Dakota more involved in ethanol production. "We are way behind other states," Mathern said. "For every step we take (in ethanol development), Minnesota takes 10." He said transmission lines must be built to carry the electricity produced at wind farms, and he vowed to work with other states to expand the electrical grid to created "super highways" of transmission lines to get North Dakota-produced electricity to where the demand is. As an example, he said a line from North Dakota to Chicago would create a corridor that would benefit energy producers in the state and consumers in metro-Chicago. Right-to-Life Mathern chairs the Right-to-Life Caucus in the State Senate. He represents a legislative district where the Republicans out-number the Democrats. He has been elected since 1986. "My opposition to abortion and willingness to work with Republicans to get things done for North Dakota have made me successful in my district and, I believe, give me a reasonable chance of being elected Governor," Mathern said. Mathern said many North Dakotans, including Democrats, oppose abortion. He noted that the District 28 Democrats running for the legislature share his position. They are Senate candidate Alan Bergman of Jud and House of Representatives candidates Isadore Gross of Kintyre and Kristen Vetter of Linton. Taxation issues Mathern said the Hoeven Administration is not lowering taxes because it is shifting more of the burden to property taxes, which is said are becoming "confiscatory." He said the state's $1.2 billion surplus should be used, in part, for property tax relief. He cited numbers in some parts of the state where property taxes on a residence have increased by nearly 48 percent in less than 10 years. "Property taxes are to the point that people are being driven out of the state, and the housing market is being affected," Mathern said. Mathern said he would like to see the budget surplus used in three general categories: •Repair infrastructure. Highways, bridges, local schools and college and other public buildings are in need of upgrades and, in some cases, replacement, according to Mathern. •Tax situation. Mathern wants taxes reduced for the middle class rather than for "the millionaires" and out-of-state corporations like Walmart, which is headquartered in Arkansas. "It's the people who live in North Dakota and own homes and small businesses who should benefit," Mathern said. •Future possibilities. Mathern would like to see improvements in health insurance for children and college tuition rebates for North Dakota students attending schools in the state. He likes the idea of incentives, such as tuition rebates, for students to stay in North Dakota after they graduate. Rural hospitals Mathern, who is Director of Public Policy for Prairie St. John's Hospital in Fargo, is a member of the Long Term Care Committee of the State Senate as well as the Appropriations, Tribal and State Relatives and Budget Committees. "We have 34 rural hospitals in North Dakota, and 27 of them are losing money," Mathern said, noting that he is impressed by the turn-around of the Linton Hospital which has moved at least slightly into the black. Mathern said he would like to see a revolving loan fund to help lower the interest hospitals have to pay on their debt. A member of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Board, Mathern would like to see more incentives to help young people who go into the health care field and to encourage them to stay in North Dakota. Emmons County roots Mathern is the son of the late John J. and Christina (Wolf) Mathern, who started out in the St. Michael's community and moved as a young couple to Edgeley in 1945 where they raised their 13 children. Legislative candidate Isadore Gross is his mother's first cousin, and he is related to candidate Kristen Vetter's husband, Andrew. Mathern noted that his mother attended high school in Linton and spent winters in town so that she could make it to school. "My mother quit school before she graduated, but she was hired as a country school teacher because she had been to high school," Mathern said. He said 20 years later she would still use her box of supplies from her brief teaching days to entertain her own children. Mathern said he was the first in his family to attend college, and his dad wondered why anyone would want to go to college. When Mathern was awarded a grant to pursue his Master's Degree at the University of Nebraska, he dad questioned why he would do it. "You've already been to college," John Mathern told his son. Mathern's first venture into politics was in 1984 when he ran for the State House of Representatives. He lost. His dad, who usually said little, called him and told him, "You lost. Now you know something for next time." Mathern was elected to the State Senate in 1986, and the Democrats had a one-seat majority under Gov. George Sinner, the state's last Democrat to serve in that position. "Dad died earlier in 1986, before I was elected," Mathern said. "That was tough on me." While the margins were not always huge, he has been elected six times to the State Senate, and his current term expires in 2010. However, Mathern hopes he will get to leave the Senate after the November election and move into the Governor's residence in Bismarck.

    The Daily News - Mathern Focused on Education, Wages

    Oct. 13, 2008

    The Daily News - Mathern Focused on Education, Wages Erin C. Hevern Building up North Dakota's workforce begins with making sure students can get an education here that goes unrivaled. Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Tim Mathern, Dem-NPL, Fargo, said in order to do that graduates should have incentive to stay in North Dakota in obtaining jobs right here where they got their education. "Right now they'reall getting these reasons to leave and we have to turn that around," Mathern said. "We have to give graduates reasons to stay." Mathern's college tuition assistance plan is the first step in doing that and building a North Dakota graduate workforce. His plan would reimburse the full cost of tuition at any state school for somebody who stays and works in North Dakota for eight years. "This is do-able. This is the greatest return of our university education, college education, vocational education is a young person, a graduate deciding to stay in North Dakota," Mathern said. "Covering the full tuition cost for all students, as opposed to a gimmick plan that only covers a small part of the cost, is the kind of investment we need to make in our future." Mathern's college tuition assistance plan begins as an $11 million program designed to invest in students and their skills they can bring to North Dakota businesses. Mathern said he's had many of his opponents ask him, what if all graduates stay here? "I don't see that as a problem at all," Mathern said. "In fact, if they don't stay here there is no money spent." If graduates do stay, then the state benefits, he added, because North Dakota would have that many more workers. "I think it sustains itself because of the benefit to the entire state and the economy," Mathern said. A second step in getting North Dakota graduates to stay and invest in careers here is offering competitive wages. The current administration advertises North Dakota as the "low wage state" as a selling point to bring jobs here. "I say we need to turn that around and say we've got good wages, we've got what I call family wages," Mathern said. His plan is improve the state's economic development strategy and attract high-wage jobs in areas like new energy, agricultural science and technology. For Mathern, rebuilding the state's workforce includes taking a look at what types of industry will last for 100 years. "It's looking at ourselves and saying what is our base and how do we build that base for better jobs?," Mathern said.