BISMARCK — North Dakota's newly appointed Attorney General Drew Wrigley is replacing his second-in-command.
Wrigley told The Forum Tuesday, March 29, that he intends to name a new chief deputy attorney general in the coming months following Troy Seibel's resignation almost two weeks ago.
Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Wrigley to attorney general last month after the death of Wayne Stenehjem, the longest-serving head of law enforcement in North Dakota history. Stenehjem died Jan. 28 from cardiac arrest at age 68.
Wrigley called the move "customary" of a turnover in leadership in the Attorney General's Office. He said he informed Seibel on March 16 of his plans to appoint his own chief deputy, and they decided over the same conversation to make Seibel's resignation effective immediately.
"We had a brief, cordial conversation," Wrigely said. "The first thing I did was thank him for his service to North Dakota and to the office, and just on a personal note, for welcoming me to the office."
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Seibel could not be reached for comment. He told KFGO earlier this week that he understood and respected Wrigley's decision to appoint his own deputy. He added that he plans to take some time off and will consider all options for his next steps.
Wrigley stressed that he did not fire Seibel. He said he has known the former chief deputy a long time and knows "he's gonna do other interesting, challenging work."
Seibel was appointed chief deputy attorney general by Stenehjem in December of 2016. He previously served under Gov. Jack Dalrymple as assistant attorney general and later as North Dakota's commissioner of labor.
Wrigley served as Dalrymple's lieutenant governor for six years. The former U.S. attorney is serving out the remainder of Stenehjem's term, which expires at the end of this year, and had already announced a campaign for attorney general before his appointment to the post.
He's currently pursuing the Republican Party's nomination for the 2022 ballot.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Adam Willis, a Report for America corps member, at awillis@forumcomm.com.
