North Dakota Republican Legislative Leaders Chosen

N.D. GOP names leaders

WILL KINCAID/Tribune Rep. Alan Carlson, right, R-Fargo, is congratulated by Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, after being unamiously elected House Majority Leader by the House Republican Caucus on Wednesday night in Bismarck. LOADING
Nov 13, 2008 - 06:45:42 CST
By BRIAN DUGGAN
Bismarck Tribune
Republican House and Senate members tapped their legislative leaders for the 2009 session Wednesday night, which was marked by a changing of the guard in the House leadership while the Senate's stayed the same.

Fargo Rep. Al Carlson is now the House majority leader after earning the unanimous support from his fellow House Republicans at their caucus meeting at the Doublewood Inn.

"The people have elected us as Republicans to be the responsible majority," said Carlson, a House member since 1993 who served as chairman of the government operations appropriations standing committee. "They put us back in a year when the Democrats took this country and tore it upside down."

House Republicans control the House 58-36, a slightly smaller majority from 2007 after the Democrats picked up three seats in this year's election.

Carlson succeeds Fargo Rep. Rick Berg, who served three terms as House majority leader, defeating Carlson for the post in 2004 and 2006. Berg did not run for the job this year.

Osnabrock Rep. David Monson, who has served as assistant majority leader for the last five sessions, emerged as the next House speaker on Wednesday night, defeating two of his colleagues after four run-off votes.

"I pledge to do my best to work with all of you, listen to all of you, to be fair in my role of speaker," said Monson, who is succeeding Underwood Rep. Jeff Delzer.

Pettibone Rep. Duane DeKrey, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Arnegard Rep. David "Skip" Drovdal also ran for the speaker post.

Cooperstown Rep. Don Vigesaa was also selected as House assistant majority leader, Monson's former position.

The Senate leadership stayed the same, with Bismarck Sen. Bob Stenehjem remaining majority leader and Hazen Sen. Randy Christmann as his assistant.

Senate Republicans still hold the majority 26-21.

The House Democrats will choose their leaders for the 2009 session tonight.

Rolette Rep. Merle Boucher said he will run for his seventh term as House minority leader. Parshall Rep. Kenton Onstad has said he will also run again for assistant minority leader.

The Senate Democrats are expected to hold their leadership caucus later this month, said current minority leader Sen. David O'Connell, D-Lansford.

Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, who lost his bid for governor, has said he will challenge O'Connell for the Senate minority leader position.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@;bismarcktribune.com.)