Merle Boucher
Encyclopedia
Merle Boucher is a North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party politician who served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
, representing the 9th district from 1991 to 2011. He served as Minority Leader from 1996 to 2011.
Boucher sought and lost the Democratic-NPL nomination for Governor in 2004 and in 2008, but became the running mate
of 2008
nominee Tim Mathern
, running on the ticket as the nominee for Lieutenant Governor
. Two years after that ticket lost, Boucher became the Democratic-NPL nominee for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
, losing in the 2010 election to incumbent Doug Goehring
Boucher is from Rolette County, North Dakota
and attended high school there. He went on to college, taking classes from the State School of Forestry
. He then transferred to Mayville State University
, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1970.
He returned to Rolette and taught at the high school for 20 years. After retiring, he became a rancher. He holds his family's original Homestead Act
claim among other land. He has coached the Rolette American Legion baseball team in past years.
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
, representing the 9th district from 1991 to 2011. He served as Minority Leader from 1996 to 2011.
Boucher sought and lost the Democratic-NPL nomination for Governor in 2004 and in 2008, but became the running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
of 2008
North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on 4 November 2008 for the post of Governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Republican Governor John Hoeven was easily re-elected again, defeating Democrat Tim Mathern.-Republican:...
nominee Tim Mathern
Tim Mathern
Tim Mathern is a state senator in North Dakota. He also unsuccessfully ran for Governor of North Dakota in 2008.Mathern grew up on a dairy and grain farm near Edgeley, ND with 12 brothers and sisters. He attended public school in Edgeley before attending Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo...
, running on the ticket as the nominee for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota is a political office in North Dakota. The Lieutenant Governor's duty is to preside as President of the Senate, and is responsible for legislative relations, the state budget and agri-business development. Should the Governor's office become vacant, the...
. Two years after that ticket lost, Boucher became the Democratic-NPL nominee for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
In the U.S. state of North Dakota, the Agriculture Commissioner, formerly known as the Commissioner of Agriculture, is an elected official who heads the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The present commissioner is Doug Goehring....
, losing in the 2010 election to incumbent Doug Goehring
Doug Goehring
Doug Goehring is the current North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner. A Republican, he was appointed to the office by Governor John Hoeven on April 6, 2009 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic-NPL incumbent Roger Johnson to become president of the National Farmers...
Boucher is from Rolette County, North Dakota
Rolette County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Lords Lake National Wildlife Refuge *Rabb Lake National Wildlife Refuge*School Section Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Willow Lake National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
and attended high school there. He went on to college, taking classes from the State School of Forestry
Minot State University-Bottineau
Dakota College at Bottineau is a two-year public institution of higher education in Bottineau, North Dakota.Founded in 1906 as a forestry school, today DCB offers associate's degrees in Business, Computer Technology/Information Technology, Natural Resources, Medical/Allied Health, and Education...
. He then transferred to Mayville State University
Mayville State University
Mayville State University is an institution of higher learning in Mayville, North Dakota, part of the North Dakota University System....
, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1970.
He returned to Rolette and taught at the high school for 20 years. After retiring, he became a rancher. He holds his family's original Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
claim among other land. He has coached the Rolette American Legion baseball team in past years.
External links
- Representative Merle Boucher, Minority Leader in the North Dakota Legislative AssemblyNorth Dakota Legislative AssemblyThe North Dakota Legislative Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The Legislative Assembly consists of two chambers, the lower North Dakota House of Representatives, with 94 representatives, and the upper North Dakota Senate, with 47 senators...
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Merle Boucher (ND) profile
- Follow the Money - Merle Boucher