Whenever a politician resigns in midterm, there will always be questions asking, “Why?” Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford is gone. He decided to leave the Burgum administration after six years of being the right arm of Governor Burgum.
But we still wonder why.
Why would an individual that has done everything he can, quit the administration right before he has the opportunity to preside over the next legislative session? Why would he take himself out of the public arena that he has so clearly enjoyed?
If I had to guess, I’d say it’ll be a while before we know the real answers. This week will be the “I’m honored to have..” and “I want to thank Governor Burgum..” type of week. Everything will look rosy and fine, but who knows? Maybe they are.
People like me will ask questions about their relationship with economic development in North Dakota. Recent failures like cryptocurrency or wet corn milling will come to mind. Or will it be because of the amount of work Sanford was asked to do? Lord knows he was asked to cut far more ribbons than the Governor.
Or is it something else?
It’s clear the Governor is very fond of his new appointee, Tammy Miller. So fond that he doesn’t mind having the Governor and Lieutenant Governor both from the east side of the state. She left a lucrative job as CEO of Border States Electric to join Governor Burgum. Joining a new administration with a mom that’s never served in an elected office.
Only time will tell for this situation. But like all things in government, time rarely hides the truth. I still hold out hope that we’ll get our hands on Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s emails.
There is one thing I’ll predict though. There will be a movement in my old chamber to remove the Lt. Governor as presiding officer. The North Dakota Senate is the legislative branch of Government, and doesn’t need the executive branch in it. It never has and never will whether it’s a Democrat or Republican, so I can guarantee that fight is coming.
Only this time, it’ll be Doug Burgum asking why.
Good riding with you,
Joel
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