Heidi Heitkamp
| Heidi Heitkamp | |
|---|---|
| 28th North Dakota Attorney General | |
| In office 1993–2000 |
|
| Governor | Ed Schafer |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Spaeth |
| Succeeded by | Wayne Stenehjem |
| 20th North Dakota State Tax Commissioner | |
| In office 1986–1992 |
|
| Preceded by | Kent Conrad |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. Hanson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 30, 1955 |
| Political party | North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party |
| Alma mater | University of North Dakota Lewis and Clark Law School |
| Website | Heidi Heitkamp for Senate |
Heidi Heitkamp (born October 30, 1955) is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of North Dakota. She served as the 28th attorney general of the state from 1993 to 2001. She ran on the Democratic-NPL ticket for governor in 2000, losing to John Hoeven. She was considering a bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election to replace retiring Senator Byron Dorgan.[1] On March 3, 2010, she declined the rematch against John Hoeven, who was ultimately elected to replace Dorgan.[2] In November 2011, Heitkamp declared her run to replace Kent Conrad as U.S. Senator from North Dakota in the 2012 election.[3]
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[edit] Early life, education, and early career
Heitkamp was born in 1955. She got a B.A. from the University of North Dakota-Grand Forks and got a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School. From 1980-1981, she was an attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[4] After that, she was hired by the Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner to represent them as an attorney.
In 1988, incumbent State Tax Commissioner Kent Conrad decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate that year. Heitkamp ran for the position and won the statewide election with 66% of the vote against Republican Marshall Moore.[5] She served that position until 1992.
[edit] Attorney General
In 1992, incumbent Democrat North Dakota Attorney General Nick Spaeth decided to retire in order to run for Governor of North Dakota that year. Heitkamp ran for the position and won with 62% of the vote.[6] In 1996, she won re-election with 64% of the vote.[7]
While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, her biggest achievement was working on the lawsuit filed against big tobacco.[8] She spearheaded the campaign to hold big tobacco companies responsible for their actions and succeeded in obtaining large amounts of money for each state to use in tobacco cessation programs. The lawsuit also placed restrictions on allowable advertising for tobacco companies.
[edit] 2000 gubernatorial election
Incumbent Republican Governor Ed Schafer decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Heitkamp ran and was unopposed in the primary. On the Republican side, John Hoeven, CEO of Bank of North Dakota, also ran unopposed. During her campaign for governor it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which is now in remission. Hoeven defeated her 55% to 45%. She won only 12 of the state's 53 counties.[9] Hoeven would go on to become an extremely popular Governor and won re-election twice (2004, 2008) with wide margins. He was elected U.S. Senator in 2010.
[edit] Post-Attorney General career
Heitkamp became director of the Dakota Gasification Company in 2003.[10]
Her brother, Joel Heitkamp, is a radio talk-show host and former North Dakota state senator. Heidi Heitkamp occasionally fills in for her brother as host of his program, News and Views, which is broadcast on Clear Channel stations in North Dakota.
[edit] 2012 U.S. Senate election
In January 2011, incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Kent Conrad announced his intent to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term in 2012.[11] On November 8, 2011 Heitkamp announced she would seek the open seat.[12] She vows to be "an independent voice."[13]
[edit] Career timeline
- Attorney, Environmental Protection Agency, 1980–1981
- Attorney, Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner, 1981–1986
- North Dakota Tax Commissioner, 1986–1992
- North Dakota Attorney General, 1993–2000
- Director, Dakota Gas, 2003–present
[edit] References
- ^ Miller, Sean J. (January 7, 2010). "Heitkamp 'very interested' in rematch with Hoeven". The Hill. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/74797-heitkamp-very-interested-in-rematch-with-hoeven.
- ^ McPike, Erin (March 3, 2010). "Heitkamp Won't Run In ND". The Hotline. http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/03/heitkamp_wont_r.php. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ Daum, Kristen M (November 8, 2011). "SPECULATION NO MORE: Heitkamp announces U.S. Senate run". Flickertales from The Hill. http://ndpolitics.areavoices.com/?p=92261. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
- ^ Heidi Heitkamp biography at Dakota Gasification Company
- ^ "ND Tax Commissioner Race - Nov 08, 1988". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=607951. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ "ND Attorney General Race - Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=613687. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ "ND Attorney General Race - Nov 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=613688. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ "Attorneys General announce Tobacco Settlement Proposal" (Press release). Washington State Office of the Attorney General. November 16, 2998. http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?&id=4568.
- ^ "ND Governor Race - Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=79. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ "Showing support for breast cancer". Capital Electric Cooperative, Inc.. http://www.capitalelec.com/News/articles/Showing_support_for_breast_cancer.html. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Haga, Chuck (January 18, 2011). "Conrad's current Senate term his last". Grand Forks Herald. http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/190488. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ^ "ND Democrat Heidi Heitkamp to run for US Senate". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. November 8, 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/nd-democrat-heidi-heitkamp-run-us-senate-161554742.html. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- ^ Camia, Catalina (November 8, 2011). "Democrats promote Heitkamp in N.D. Senate race". USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/11/heidi-heitkamp-north-dakota-senate-kent-conrad-/1?csp=34news. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kent Conrad |
Tax Commissioner of North Dakota 1986–1992 |
Succeeded by Robert E. Hanson |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Nicholas Spaeth |
Attorney General of North Dakota 1993–2000 |
Succeeded by Wayne Stenehjem |
