WATFORD CITY -- Sandra Sanford, the wife of Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford, has been very politically involved herself in different conservative non-profit organizations. Her husband has also been involved in politics for many years as the mayor of Watford City, as his grandfather was.
“I don’t even like to use the word political, I prefer the term public service,” said Sandra Sanford. “When he jumped in on the ticket with Burgum, it didn’t surprise me at all. He was ready. As a family, we look at this as a public service. There’s a difference between looking at it like that than as a politician. We didn’t have people propping us up, we are moving organically and independently. I knew what he could do, I knew what he was made of.”
Sanford also described what she appreciated about what her husband has done,
“He has an economic mindset, he’s an accountant. He has a financial mind. He also has a mind for the energy industry, said Sanford. “What I’m most proud of Brent for - he spearheaded state efforts to bring Coal Creek Station in Underwood back from plant closure to transitioning to a new owner. As a conservative, he’s conscientious of how we spend North Dakota’s money. I'm very proud of him for what he’s done in that regard. He wants to be a steward of North Dakota’s funds.”
Of course, being the wife of the Lieutenant Governor is not always easy. Sanford calls public service a 24/7 endeavor.
“You might think you can take a break from it, but you really, truly never unplug. The state is always moving even if we decide to take a little respite somewhere,” said Sanford. “Politics in general is a little bit of a game of chess, and you can’t get through this without injury if you’re an overly emotional person. Neither of us are very overly emotional. We just maneuver, we’re very objective about it.”
What Sanford described as “COVID overreach” disrupted what had been fairly smooth governing in North Dakota, and the entire world.
“Overreach, I think, was not only a test across our state and our nation, but that probably tested our home as well,” said Sanford. “It didn’t matter what side of this you were on, overreach hurts. Yet, I tell you what, we came out of that, as a husband and wife, Republicans and as conservatives. We came out of that really strong. We’ve never been stronger, we’ve never been more steadfast.”
Like everyone else, Sandford went through the COVID-19 period and had her own thoughts about the response.
“At the end of the day I’m an individual that has my opinion and my own thoughts that are separate from my husband’s, or separate from even the executive office,” said Sanford. “All you can do is communicate that, and just know that you put it out there. And the executive office did what they could do.”
Sanford said she is part of a family of strong faith that prays often, including for government officials.
“Even though I don’t approve of masks, and I don’t approve of lockdowns, I’m grateful that as a parent I have a little bit more leeway,” said Sanford. “You know, if your kids are sick, keep them home. But the overreach, it is very clear to me, and I don’t tolerate it. We are a family that is strongly opposed to the mandate.”
“Politics is like a chess game, there’s forecasting,” Sandford described. “It can be very politically aggressive, and even kind of perverted in a sense. We don’t play. You just put your head down, you do your job, you do good work, and let your results show.”
Sandford and her husband came from North Dakota generational families and are great grandchildren of North Dakota homesteaders.
“To witness and watch Brent work side by side with others that live and love our home, the state of North Dakota, as much as he does, is priceless,” Sandford expressed.
Brent Sandford’s office can be contacted at 701-328-2500.
