Gunnar Kvassheim
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Kvassheim is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Rogaland
in 1997
, but not re-elected in 2001
. During Bondevik's Second Cabinet, Kvassheim was appointed state secretary
in the Office of the Prime Minister
. He was re-elected to a second parliamentary term in 2005
, where he became chair of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment
. He failed to be re-elected in 2009
because the Liberal Party missed about 3000 votes. After the election results, Kvassheim resigned from national politics.
On the local level he was a member of Eigersund
municipal council from 1975 to 1983. He chairs the local party chapter since 2004, and was the deputy leader of the nationwide party from 1996 to 2001. From 2001 till 2008 he was a member of the Liberal Party central board.
Outside of politics, he has spent his career in newspapers. He was a journalist from 1976 to 1986 and editor-in-chief of Dalane Tidende
from 1986 to 1997. From 2009, he became vice president at Lyse Energi
.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
in 1997
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. Before the election, Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party, issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained...
, but not re-elected in 2001
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on September 10, 2001. The Labour Party won a plurality of votes and seats, closely followed by the Conservative Party...
. During Bondevik's Second Cabinet, Kvassheim was appointed state secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Office of the Prime Minister
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
The Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister is a political and bureaucratic office that assists the Cabinet of Norway and the Prime Minister of Norway in the leadership of the Cabinet and Government. It has since 2005 been led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg . Minister and Chief of Staff is Karl...
. He was re-elected to a second parliamentary term in 2005
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, where he became chair of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment
Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment
The Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for policies relating to petroleum, energy, hydroelectricity, environmental protection and regional planning. It corresponds to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and...
. He failed to be re-elected in 2009
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
because the Liberal Party missed about 3000 votes. After the election results, Kvassheim resigned from national politics.
On the local level he was a member of Eigersund
Eigersund
Eigersund is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Egersund landdisstrikt was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Augne was separated from Eigersund in 1839. Helleland and the town of Egersund were merged with Eigersund on 1 January 1965.-Location:Eigersund extends from the...
municipal council from 1975 to 1983. He chairs the local party chapter since 2004, and was the deputy leader of the nationwide party from 1996 to 2001. From 2001 till 2008 he was a member of the Liberal Party central board.
Outside of politics, he has spent his career in newspapers. He was a journalist from 1976 to 1986 and editor-in-chief of Dalane Tidende
Dalane Tidende
Dalane Tidende is a local newspaper published in Egersund, Norway.Dalane Tidende was started in 1885 as Dalernes Tidende. Its name was changed in 1934...
from 1986 to 1997. From 2009, he became vice president at Lyse Energi
Lyse Energi
Lyse is a power company based in Jæren and Ryfylke, Norway. The company operates ten hydroelectric and one thermal power plants, the power grid in 16 municipalities as well as fiberoptic broadband and other telecommunication services, natural gas distribution, district heating, burglar alarms,...
.