3 hours Ago
The public Inaugural Ball for North Dakota Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong has been scheduled for 7-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Bismarck Event Center. The Republican Armstrong easily defeated Democrat-NPL candidate Merrill Piepkorn in the Nov.
5 general election, winning 68% of the vote. He'll succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who did not seek reelection and was recently nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump for Interior secretary.
Armstrong will be North Dakota's 34th governor. He will be sworn in on Dec. 15.
The celebratory Inaugural Ball a month later will include food and live music, and will have a baseball theme, with Armstrong having previously been an American Legion baseball coach, according to the charitable Governor’s Heritage Foundation. “We welcome all North Dakotans to come together to celebrate our great state stepping into a new era of leadership with Gov.-Elect Kelly Armstrong and Lt.
Gov.-Elect Michelle Strinden at the helm,” Foundation Vice Chair Gretchen Stenehjem said. A portion of donations from the event will go to the North Dakota FFA Foundation and the Great Plains Food Bank.
A donation station will be set up at the check-in for the event. Attendees also are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item. Melissa Sobolik, CEO of Great Plains Food Bank -- North Dakota's lone food bank -- said the nonprofit was grateful for the Inaugural Ball "shining a light on the issue and encouraging everyone to take action as we work together to end hunger in North Dakota.
” North Dakota FFA Foundation Executive Director Laiken Demorrett said the focus on that organization will help it "expand our efforts to grow leaders, build communities, and strengthen agriculture." Event attire is considered black tie optional, with attendees encouraged to add a touch of ballpark flair such as a favorite team pin or a nod to North Dakota baseball. The event is free to the public, but attendees must RSVP at armstronginauguralball.
com . More information also is available at the site. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!.
