Monson will be speaker

BISMARCK — Rep. David Monson, R-Osna-brock, will be the speaker of the House in the 2009 Legislature and the House will also have a new slate of majority leaders.

As ex-pected, Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, was elected House majority lead-er without op-position, and Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, became the first new assistant House majority leader in 10 years. He also ran without opposition.

Speaker was the only House leadership election that was contested and it involved a three-way race. It took four ballots before Monson won, defeating Rep. David “Skip” Drovdal, R-Arnegard, and Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone.

Monson had been assistant majority leader since 1999.

The caucuses do not announce the vote tallies following leadership elections.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem was re-elected without opposition and Sen. Randy Christmann, R-Hazen, was re-elected assistant majority leader, surviving a challenge from Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo.

Legislators are preparing for the 2009 session, which convenes Jan. 6. An organizational session is Dec. 1-3.

Carlson will take over the post held the past three sessions by Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, who announced earlier this fall that he would not seek a fourth term as leader. Berg had defeated Carlson in the leadership elections ahead of the 2005 and 2007 sessions.

Carlson said North Dakota voters returned the Republicans to their position in the House majority in spite of a strong showing in the state from Democratic supporters of Barack Obama because “they want good leadership.”

A Fargo homebuilder, Carlson has been in the House since 1993 and in leadership positions on the House Appropriations Committee since 2003.

Vigesaa has been in the House since 2005. He runs a car dealership in Cooperstown.

Stenehjem, in the Senate since 1993, has been leader since the end of the 2001 session. Christmann has been assistant leader in the Senate majority since the beginning of the 2001 session. Stenehjem works for the city of Bismarck and is older brother to Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Christmann is a farmer and rancher.

At one time, Flakoll had considered running against Stenehjem. He announced Monday he would oppose Christmann instead.

Cole works for Forum

Communications Co., which owns The Jamestown Sun

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