John Kelly grew up in Watertown, New York, later moved to Barre, Vermont, and graduated from high school in 1972. He then attended Norwich University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received a commission in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer, serving for nine and a half years. There he met his wife, Darlene, who also served in the Army as a nurse and nurse practitioner.
When it was time to leave active duty, they decided to try farming on Darlene’s mother’s farm near Pekin, North Dakota. Over the years, Kelly held many jobs, including retail worker, short-order cook, hardware store manager, and certified nursing assistant. McVille Hospital paid for his CNA training, and he worked there for 12 years on the night shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Politics wasn’t even on his radar, but when he retired about four years ago a friend, Ben Vig, reached out and others, as well, who encouraged him to think about it.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was how our representatives from District 29 voted on school lunches.”
On Jan. 23, the State Senate voted down House Bill 1624, which would have provided up to $65 million to fund free school breakfasts and lunches for every public-school student in grades K-12 in the state. Having passed in the House the previous day, the Senate vote was 24 against, 22 in favor. “It was a two-vote difference,” Kelly said, adding that his District 29 opponent, Republican incumbent State Sen. Terry Wanzek voted against the bill. A measure for free school meals is now likely to appear on the ballot in November.
Kelly also took issue with Wanzek, a farmer with 15,000 acres, over his proposal to loosen restrictions against corporate ownership in the corporate farming law, intended to protect family farms. Voters ultimately overturned the proposal, maintaining the state’s stance against corporate farming.
“And the other thing that Wanzek voted for himself was a per diem hike,” Kelly said, referring to State Senate Bill 2084, which amends the lodging reimbursement rates for legislators and increases the maximum monthly reimbursement from 70% to 85% of the daily lodging rate. “So, it’s fine if he gets food and room, but North Dakota kids…”
Kelly wants to go to Bismarck and “be a senator who will listen to the entire district, their wants and needs.”
If it means doing some “looking for ways to fund programs” rather than just throwing up your hands and giving up saying “we can’t do that, the budget won’t allow it”, look for it, work for it.
School Board Election & Nathan Kraft
Nathan Kraft is running for one of the two three-year terms open for the Devils Lake Public School Board.
Nathan is a 2012 graduate of DLHS, a lifelong resident of Devils Lake. His folks are Kevin and Kim Kraft.
He is married to Tanya, a teacher at Minnie H Kindergarten Center. They have two daughters; Lilly, 6, and Ellie, 3.
Kraft says if he is elected to the school board he hopes to be able to learn more about what area teachers, like his wife, may need support or encouragement in. He stated that his wife loves teaching at Minnie H and hopes as a school board member he would be able to better help everyone who works for the school system, no matter what their role may be.
He also touched on the idea of Al being used more in some areas, however he feels strongly that AI should be used appropriately and not replace one’s ability to use their own mind. He strongly believes that teachers can never be replaced by Al, but they may use it as a valuable tool sometimes, but nothing can be better than a real, live, caring teacher for our children.
The following residents have filed to run for the DLPS school board: 3-Year Terms – Emily Foss, Nathan Kraft and Cory Meyer have filed to run for the two positions available. For the one-year term – fulfilling one unexpired term: Andrew Sogge has filed to run for that position.
The school board election will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Building.
A reminder:
If you are running for office in 2026 we would like to know a little about you and why you think you would be the best candidate for voters to choose in the next local election.
Contact [email protected] with your contact information – telephone number and best time to call – and I will call, do an interview in person and get you to submit a photo of yourself or take one when I interview you so we can run a story about the people on all levels who are running for office. I do prefer to meet you face to face to do the interview.
We all want to be informed voters! This is your chance to get a little “free” advertising from us at the Devils Lake Journal before the election.
Thank you in advance for helping us get the word out about who is running and why you’re running! (This part was first published on the front page of the Devils Lake Journal, May 14, 2026.)
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