TFND thanks Senator Stan Lyson for his service

by: Erin Hill-Oban, Executive Director, Tobacco Free North Dakota
On behalf of Tobacco Free North Dakota (TFND), our Board, and our members, I would like to publicly thank Sen. Stan Lyson for his years of service to both the residents of District 1 and of our state, especially for his work and support for investments in a comprehensive tobacco prevention program and for statewide policies that protect our kids from the harmful effects of tobacco use.
According to a statewide poll conducted earlier this year, 89% of North Dakotans support dedicating a portion of the dollars secured by the state of North Dakota through the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to a program that keeps our kids from ever initiating tobacco use and offers assistance to those who wish to kick the habit.  Investing in prevention isn’t only good public health policy; it also saves the taxpayers money.  Sen. Lyson recognized the significance of that public support as well as the importance of the program.
While we didn’t always agree, we knew we could count on Sen. Lyson to listen to both sides of the issues most important to our cause.  We will miss his moderate approach to policymaking, his support for tobacco prevention and control policies, and we challenge District 1 to elect legislators to both the Senate and House who will meet the public’s support for these cost-saving investments.
Sen. Lyson spent much of his life protecting the public as a county sheriff and as a legislator, and TFND extends our most sincere appreciation and well wishes to him in his retirement.
-Submitted to the Williston Herald.