Small Town News

Hoeven, Berg, Stenehjem get GOP nods

---

Gov. John Hoeven has received the Republican endorsement to run for the U.S. Senate.

The delegates voted 945 to 251 to endorse Hoeven on Saturday over rival Paul Sorum, an architect from Fargo.

"We need to make government a partner to progress," said Hoeven. "We will bring North Dakota common sense back to D.C."

Hoeven will be likely facing Tracy Potter, who is thus far the only announced Democratic candidate for the Senate, though others may enter the race at their state convention next weekend.

Hoeven said major points in his campaign will be the economy and job creation, energy policy, and reining in spending.

"In North Dakota we've not only lived within our means, we've created over a $700 million reserve, and we have no general obligation debt," said Hoeven. "In Washington, D.C, they plan to raise your taxes to hundreds of billions of dollars which doesn't seem to be a lot these days to them."

Hoeven said he is opposed to cap and trade and the health care bill, saying both will hurt business and raise taxes.

"For health care, Washington's approach is to write a 2,700-page bill that raises taxes by $500 billion," Hoeven said. He said he doesn't want government mandates but rather increased competition, expanded use of health savings accounts, more transparency, and tort reform.

Hoeven said he's going to maintain the same focus on the race now as the endorsed candidate as he did earlier in the campaign and in past campaigns. He said he'll deal with Potter as the situation arises.

And while Hoeven won the endorsement with numbers consistent with his approval rating, Sorum still garnered roughly 20 percent of the vote.

Bismarck Sen. Bob Stenehjem said that shows there's a part of the party more interested in a more conservative candidate.

"I think it sends a slight message to the governor that not everybody is happy with him," Stenehjem said. "We lost 21 percent of the vote. It's not a huge mandate, but it's something you might want to consider."

Sorum said he was hoping for more like 400 votes, but is still pleased with his turnout.

"You know, I didn't spend that much money, I didn't have a campaign manager, and I didn't get that much press. In light of that I think it turned out well. I didn't lose. It was great," said Sorum.

"He worked hard and all that hard work paid off," said Hoeven. Sorum said he would be getting involved in the Hoeven campaign.

Sorum said he is wholeheartedly supportive of Hoeven.

"I'm not used to being in a competition where everyone's on the same team," said Sorum. "It's a good feeling because you can't lose."

This is Hoeven's fourth statewide race but marks the first time he has run for national office.

If elected, Hoeven would be filling the seat of Sen. Byron Dorgan, who announced his retirement from politics in early January.

"It's been 30 years since we elected a Republican senator in North Dakota and I think it's about time," Hoeven said.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has received the Republican endorsement to run for re-election.

Stenehjem ran unopposed for his party's nomination Saturday and has no announced Democratic opponent, though attorney and former legislator John Mahoney said he is considering a bid.

Stenehjem spoke to the convention, talking of his work in prosecuting sex offenders. He said his office has set up a "To Catch a Predator" type task force to help target the offenders.

"We've enhanced our ability to locate, arrest, and prosecute these perpetrators," he said. "We'll tell those predators, be wary of who you're talking to on Internet. It might just be a cop."

This is Stenehjem's fourth time running for this office.

"If I win this election I'll be the state's longest serving attorney general, but it feels like I just got here yesterday," Stenehjem said.

Stenehjem was first elected in 2000 after serving 24 years in the legislator for Grand Forks, acting as president pro temp in the 1999 session.

After losing the U.S. House of Representatives endorsement to Rick Berg, Kevin Cramer said he is not counting himself out of the Public Service Commission race.

The decision, he said, lies with the delegates.

"I'm willing and open to a draft if they'll have me if it's the delegations will," Cramer said Saturday.

Cramer said he has spoken with Bismarck Sen. Bob Stenehjem who had earlier expressed interest in the race, along with Rep. Duane DeKrey.

Both Stenehjem and DeKrey said they were waiting to see how the House race turned out before making a decision on the PSC, saying they had doubts that Cramer would keep his word not to run.

"I told him a number of people have talked to me about a draft," Cramer said.

Stenehjem said even though he had made preparations in terms of seeking the nomination, he'll be deferring to the incumbent.



Copyright 2010 Turtle Mountain Star, Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Turtle Mountain Star