BISMARCK -- Three weeks after the last election, North Dakotans already face their first 2004 political campaign.
Mandan auto glass dealer Terry Barnes said Tuesday he wants to run for state insurance commissioner two years from now. He will seek the Democratic-NPL Party's endorsement.
"I'm the best person to be the next insurance commissioner," Barnes said.
His presumed opponent, Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman, said it's too early for a 2004 election campaign.
Barnes said skirmishes with insurance companies over his practice of paying customers' deductibles led to awareness of other practices in the insurance industry.
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When his mother died earlier this year, Barnes said he learned that a credit card company had sold her a disability policy that was a waste of money.
Barnes, who has been in business 24 years, was acquitted last year of criminal charges that he violated a law prohibiting glass installers from paying customers' deductibles.
He also has his differences with Poolman.
"I was really mad about the form letters I was getting from the insurance commissioner's office," he said. "I file a lot of complaints."
That prompted a sign outside his business this past summer saying, "Terry Barnes for insurance commissioner." People told him, "Terry, maybe you should take this seriously," he said.
Poolman said his department's letters to Barnes are not form letters.
"Where we've had the legal authority to help, we have tried to help Terry Barnes," Poolman said. "But in many cases, he wants us to give him help where we don't have any legal authority."
For instance, Barnes wanted the department to force State Farm Insurance to restore his status as a preferred provider of auto glass.
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Poolman said planning for a 2004 election campaign is the last thing on his list and that voters probably feel the same way.
"People aren't looking for another campaign that will be two years long," Poolman said, noting that his term is less than half over.
Barnes said he announced now because he wants to research the Insurance Department.
He said he is concerned about insurance companies leaving the state and about rising premiums.
Barnes has talked to Democratic-NPL Party officials about his candidacy, said Vern Thompson, the party's executive director.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
