WASHINGTON, D.C. (NewsDakota.com) – Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser was one of several other county Sheriff’s and Commissioners from North Dakota that were invited to the White House in August.

North Dakota Mayors as well as other city and county leaders from South Dakota and Wyoming were also invited to the White House event. The event was part of a series of meetings the White House has been holding for more than a year with county-level officials from around the country, state-by-state.

“By the end of the year, every county commissioner in the nation will have been invited to the White House. These meetings are unprecedented, never before has a President held such events. Thirty-four states have now been represented at the meetings,” said Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Douglas Hoelscher. “The President wants to do everything possible to push decisions back to county and city leaders. He wants to make this an ongoing dialog.”

Attendees received information from cabinet officials and were given direct contact information for access to the various federal offices and were encouraged to reach out regarding projects and issues.

“This was an unprecedented trip to the White House,” Sheriff Kaiser stated. “County Government has never been asked to come to the White House prior to this. It was great to be asked to come and speak on the issues we are facing in Stutsman County.”

Kaiser says they were able to talk about the opioid and drug issues as well as labor and infrastructure and energy.

“We all left with key contact information for any issues that arise in our County. I left with a feeling that the Administration wants to help us in anyway they can at the County level.”

North Dakota county commissioners attending the meeting were: Chad Peterson, Mary Scherling, Rick Steen all of Cass County; Nathan Berseth, Richland; Cody Schulz, Morton; and Cynthia Pic, Grand Forks. Other Sheriffs attending the meeting were Pat Rummel, Billings; Clayton Coker, Dunn; Sarah Warner, Hettinger; Gary Schwartzenberger, McKenzie; Steve Nelson, Ramsey; and Terry Oestreich, Stark.

North Dakota Association of Counties Government Affairs Specialist Donnell Preskey Hushka accompanied the group.

Photos courtesy of the North Dakota Association of Counties and Chad Kaiser.