North Dakota Public Service Commission
Encyclopedia
The North Dakota Public Service Commission is a constitutional agency that maintains various degrees of statutory authority over utilities, telecommunications, railroads, grain elevators, pipeline safety, and other functions in North Dakota
.
Established before North Dakota
became a state, the Dakota Territory
established a Board of Railroad Commissioners in 1885 to oversee railroads, sleeping car, express and telephone companies. With the state's creation in 1889, the board was known as the North Dakota Railroad Commission
. In 1940, the name was changed to the Public Service Commission. The commission currently consists of three Commissioners who are elected on a statewide basis to staggered six-year terms.
.
Brian’s background brings a wealth of experience for North Dakota – he was raised in a small town, traveled the world as a U.S. Marine, returned to North Dakota to teach college and now serves North Dakota as a statewide elected official. He and his wife Karen will have been married twenty years this summer. They have one daughter. Brian was born and raised in Bottineau, North Dakota and graduated from Bottineau High School in 1984. He then attended college at Dakota College in Bottineau prior to his enlistment in the Marine Corps in 1987. As an enlisted man, he served around the world as a communication non-commissioned officer. He deployed and served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm resulting in the liberation of Kuwait. Brian has traveled to over thirty different countries. While in the Marine Corps, he received his Bachelors’ Degree in Political Science from Campbell University, N.C., and was then selected to Officers Candidate School and commissioned in Quantico, Va. As a Logistics Officer he participated in numerous operations and exercises at home and abroad, to include the evacuations of the American Embassies in Liberia and the Central African Republic. In June 1999, Major Kalk was selected to the Marine Corps Advanced Degree Program; returned to North Dakota and earned his Masters in Environmental Engineering from North Dakota State University. Brian was then assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as the Base Environmental Compliance Officer in 2001. In February 2003, Major Kalk deployed as the Forward Operations Officer for Transportation Support Group One, providing critical logistics support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Kuwait and Iraq during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During the summer of 2003 he returned to North Dakota and assumed command of the Fargo Military Entrance Processing Station until his retirement. During that time he received his Doctorate in Natural Resource Management from North Dakota State University. Upon his retirement, he was hired by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU. While at NDSU, he taught a variety of courses in Political Science, Transportation and Logistics, and Natural Resource Management. In January of 2008, Dr. Brian Kalk announced he would be seeking the Republican nomination for Public Service Commissioner. He then launched an energetic campaign that propelled him through a spirited contest at the Republican State Convention in March and culminated in his election to the Public Service Commissioner in November. Brian brings a wealth of education, experience, and expertise to the Public Service Commission and is currently pursuring a race for U.S. House. He has remained very active in service organizations, such as the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Veterans. His Military Awards and Decorations are as follows:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and USMC Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Citation
The USMC Good Conduct Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Exped Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Volunteer Service Medal
NATO Medal
Navy and USMC Commendation Medal
The Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Citation
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbons
Kuwait Liberation Medals
, and was subsequently elected to the commission in 2004 by over 65 percent of the vote. He will face re-election in 2010. Prior to his tenure as commissioner, Cramer served under Governor Ed Schafer as the State Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997, and as the state's Economic Development Director from 1997 to 2000. Cramer twice was the Republican
challenger to incumbent Earl Pomeroy
for North Dakota's At-large congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
; in 1998, and in 1996.
's District 44 in the state House of Representatives
from 1994 to 1997.
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
Established before North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
became a state, the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
established a Board of Railroad Commissioners in 1885 to oversee railroads, sleeping car, express and telephone companies. With the state's creation in 1889, the board was known as the North Dakota Railroad Commission
North Dakota Railroad Commission
The North Dakota Railroad Commission was a North Dakota constitutional agency that was the precedent of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. The Commission consisted of three elected Railroad Commissioners, and was created in 1889...
. In 1940, the name was changed to the Public Service Commission. The commission currently consists of three Commissioners who are elected on a statewide basis to staggered six-year terms.
Current Public Service Commissioners
All three of the current Public Service Commissioners are from the North Dakota Republican PartyNorth Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
.
Brian Kalk
Dr. Brian Kalk was elected Public Service Commissioner in the November election and is currently running for US House.Brian’s background brings a wealth of experience for North Dakota – he was raised in a small town, traveled the world as a U.S. Marine, returned to North Dakota to teach college and now serves North Dakota as a statewide elected official. He and his wife Karen will have been married twenty years this summer. They have one daughter. Brian was born and raised in Bottineau, North Dakota and graduated from Bottineau High School in 1984. He then attended college at Dakota College in Bottineau prior to his enlistment in the Marine Corps in 1987. As an enlisted man, he served around the world as a communication non-commissioned officer. He deployed and served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm resulting in the liberation of Kuwait. Brian has traveled to over thirty different countries. While in the Marine Corps, he received his Bachelors’ Degree in Political Science from Campbell University, N.C., and was then selected to Officers Candidate School and commissioned in Quantico, Va. As a Logistics Officer he participated in numerous operations and exercises at home and abroad, to include the evacuations of the American Embassies in Liberia and the Central African Republic. In June 1999, Major Kalk was selected to the Marine Corps Advanced Degree Program; returned to North Dakota and earned his Masters in Environmental Engineering from North Dakota State University. Brian was then assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as the Base Environmental Compliance Officer in 2001. In February 2003, Major Kalk deployed as the Forward Operations Officer for Transportation Support Group One, providing critical logistics support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Kuwait and Iraq during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During the summer of 2003 he returned to North Dakota and assumed command of the Fargo Military Entrance Processing Station until his retirement. During that time he received his Doctorate in Natural Resource Management from North Dakota State University. Upon his retirement, he was hired by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU. While at NDSU, he taught a variety of courses in Political Science, Transportation and Logistics, and Natural Resource Management. In January of 2008, Dr. Brian Kalk announced he would be seeking the Republican nomination for Public Service Commissioner. He then launched an energetic campaign that propelled him through a spirited contest at the Republican State Convention in March and culminated in his election to the Public Service Commissioner in November. Brian brings a wealth of education, experience, and expertise to the Public Service Commission and is currently pursuring a race for U.S. House. He has remained very active in service organizations, such as the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Veterans. His Military Awards and Decorations are as follows:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and USMC Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Citation
The USMC Good Conduct Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Exped Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Volunteer Service Medal
NATO Medal
Navy and USMC Commendation Medal
The Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Citation
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbons
Kuwait Liberation Medals
Kevin Cramer
Kevin Cramer was appointed to the commission in 2003 by Governor John HoevenJohn Hoeven
John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...
, and was subsequently elected to the commission in 2004 by over 65 percent of the vote. He will face re-election in 2010. Prior to his tenure as commissioner, Cramer served under Governor Ed Schafer as the State Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997, and as the state's Economic Development Director from 1997 to 2000. Cramer twice was the Republican
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
challenger to incumbent Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy is a lobbyist and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.- Early life, education and career :...
for North Dakota's At-large congressional district
North Dakota's At-large congressional district
North Dakota's At-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of North Dakota. All of North Dakota is contained within one at large Congressional District making it the eighth largest district in the nation.- History:...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
; in 1998, and in 1996.
Tony Clark
Tony Clark was elected to the commission in 2000, and was re-elected in 2006. Prior to being elected Public Service Commissioner, Clark served in the cabinet of Governor Ed Schafer as Labor Commissioner, and was the Administrative Officer for the state Tax Department. He is a former state legislator, representing FargoFargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
's District 44 in the state House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
from 1994 to 1997.
See also
- List of North Dakota Public Service Commissioners
- North Dakota Railroad CommissionNorth Dakota Railroad CommissionThe North Dakota Railroad Commission was a North Dakota constitutional agency that was the precedent of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. The Commission consisted of three elected Railroad Commissioners, and was created in 1889...