Sen. Kathy Hogan, from left, Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. David Hogue hold an Ethics Commission selection committee meeting Sept. 23, 2025, at the Capitol. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)
The state officials responsible for selecting the next three members of the North Dakota Ethics Commission remained deadlocked Friday.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong remains steadfast in his refusal to reappoint incumbent Murray Sagsveen. Sens. David Hogue, R-Minot, and Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, adamantly maintain he should be one of the three appointees to minimize turnover on the board.
“The learning curve for new people on this commission is probably two to three years because it’s a very complex commission,” Hogan said. “I’m concerned about continuity, and that’s part of the reason why I’m hesitant to replace Mr. Sagsveen.”
Commissioners Murray Sagsveen, left, and Ronald Goodman, right, members of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, listen to a House committee hearing on March 18, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
Hogue and Armstrong believe the Ethics Commission has been trespassing upon executive branch authority and that needs to be addressed. But they differ on whether Sagsveen can be part of the solution.
Armstrong also said he strongly disagrees with Sagsveen’s assertion in a candidate questionnaire that the Legislature has passed laws to limit the authority of the Ethics Commission, violating the state constitution.
Hogue suggested the committee appoint one candidate to a four-year term to replace Ward Koeser and then continue to work toward a compromise on the remaining two vacancies. Koeser isn’t seeking reappointment.
“I don’t think any one of us would lose any bargaining position if we fill that position today,” Hogue said.
Armstrong, a Republican, said he prefers to appoint candidates to all three vacancies simultaneously instead of making piecemeal selections.
“I want the weekend to think about it,” Armstrong said.
Sagsveen and Koeser continue to serve on the commission until replaced or reappointed by the selection committee even though their terms expired on Aug. 31. Cynthia Lindquist and Ron Goodman’s terms expire in 2027. The fifth seat is vacant following the May death of former Chair Dave Anderson.
Sagsveen was initially appointed to the commission last September to fill a vacancy after Paul Richard retired. Sagsveen has nearly five decades of experience in state government and has served under multiple Republican leaders.
The appointment of an ethics commissioner requires the consensus of the governor, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader, not a majority vote.
Armstrong adjourned the meeting after 11 minutes of discussion. No appointments were made. The committee will reconvene early next week.
Cathy Bliss, a member of the League of Women Voters who routinely observes Ethics Commission meetings, said she is mystified by the governor’s refusal to reappoint Sagsveen.
“I was really quite shocked. Apparently I’m still naive at this age,” Bliss said in an interview.
But she is encouraged by the bipartisanship of Hogue and Hogan who have presented a united front.
“Take your time. Get it right because this is really important,” Bliss said. “We’re at a critical juncture.”
Ellen Chaffee, one of the private citizens and activists behind the constitutional amendment that created the Ethics Commission, took issue with Armstrong demanding a “reset” from the watchdog agency.
She said the tenor of the discourse around and with the Ethics Commission by other parts of state government needs to change.
“There’s a certain level of maturity and respect and civility,” Chaffee said. “That’s what needs to be reset.”
Hogan said after the meeting she is worried about delaying the appointments for too long because the Ethics Commission has been “tentative” about taking action until the new members of the board are appointed.
“I’m not sure if we can get to consensus,” Hogan said.
North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge can be reached at jorledge@northdakotamonitor.com.
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