BISMARCK -- Kevin Cramer, a former state economic development director and longtime state Republican activist, will be the new member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.
Gov. John Hoeven announced the appointment Monday to fill the slot of Commissioner Leo Reinbold, who retires July 31.
Cramer also is a former state tourism director, two- time candidate for the U.S. House and state GOP party chairman. He said he plans to run for a full six-year term in the 2004 election.
Hoeven listed several reasons for choosing Cramer over several other applicants, including two Democrats.
Most important, the governor said, is Cramer's background in economic development, which is critical in an agency that regulates industries that can bring high-paying jobs to the state. He also cited Cramer's record for hard work, his commitment to public service and his knowledge of the PSC's business.
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The three-member PSC regulates public utilities, including transmission lines and telecommunications, as well as the mining industry, grain dealers and auctioneers.
Cramer said he can foster economic development and still accommodate citizens concerned about the effects of mining or transmission line route.
"Certainly balance has to be struck," he said. "We need to grow our economy and at the same time protect the environment."
Cramer, 42, was born in Rolla and grew up in Kindred, where his parents still live. He has a bachelor's degree in social work from Concordia College with an emphasis on pre-seminary studies. His master's degree in management is from U-Mary.
Cramer has been director of the Harold Schafer Leadership Foundation at the University of Mary in Bismarck since 2001, when he left the state Department of Economic Development and Finance at the time Hoeven took office.
He was the state GOP's executive director from 1989-91 and chairman 1991-1993. In 1993, Gov. Ed Schafer named him tourism director and then ED&F director in 1997.
Cramer and Hoeven said recent publicity about sexual harassment complaints against Reinbold did not affect the timing of the announcement.
Reinbold came under investigation in March after an employee of the state securities commissioner alleged he kissed her in a Capitol elevator on two occasions. The investigation was completed April 1 and Reinbold announced his retirement May 1 citing ongoing health problems. He has told the Associated Press the charges are false and that the investigation did not affect the timing of his retirement announcement.
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Reinbold has been commissioner since 1981 and has Parkinson's and double vision. His current six-year term would have lasted through 2004.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
