BISMARCK - This time, the president of the state Board of Higher Education is among the finalists for appointment to the board, following a meeting Tuesday of a nominating committee.
Richie Smith, an attorney in Wahpeton and current board president, is seeking a second four-year term on the board. The nominating committee forwarded his name and two others to Gov. John Hoeven for possible appointment to the seat Smith now holds. The others are Robert Lamp of Fargo, CEO and president of the Auto Dealers Association of North Dakota and former gubernatorial legal counsel Robert Harms of Bismarck.
Last year, the nominating committee snubbed then-president John Q. Paulsen of Fargo, refusing to name him a finalist for re-appointment, with legislators on the nominating committee casting the deciding votes. They were displeased with the board having forced out former Chancellor Robert Potts two years before.
For the board seat held by Pam Kostelecky of Dickinson, who is ineligible for reappointment, the nominating committee on Tuesday named its other three finalists, Bismarck lawyer Wallace Goulet, Minot physician Robert Sanke and former North Dakota Realtors executive and ex-Burleigh County Commissioner Claus Lembke of Bismarck.
The names were sent to Gov. John Hoeven, who must pick one name from each list. State law doesn't allow him to reject the lists and ask for more nominees.
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The nominating committee didn't contemplate not naming Smith, but talked hypothetically about the negative long-term effects if they were to again reject a board president's bid for a second term. Such a pattern could discourage people from applying in the future.
"You don't want to give the (president's position) the kiss of death," said Speaker of the House David Monson, R-Osnabrock, one of five nominating committee members.
Another, Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle, imagined potential applicants asking themselves why they would risk being humiliated if they sought a second term.
"I would hate to get out there and troll for other board members (after that)," he said. Once was enough, he added. "The message has been sent."
The legislators on the nominating committee are not the same as last year. Monson and Senate President Pro Tem Tom Fischer, R-Fargo, are the members now. Last year, those slots were held by Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, and Speaker of the House Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood.
When new board terms begin July 1, there will be only one woman among the seven citizen members, because the nominating committee did not forward the names of either of the two women who applied for the upcoming open seats-Heather Hertz of Mott and Susan Risher of Fargo. There were 10 applicants in total.
The other nominating committee members are state Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead and North Dakota Education Association President Dakota Draper.
Cole works for Forum Communications Co., which owns The Forum. She can be reached at (701) 224-0830 or forumcap@btinet.net
