BISMARCK, ND – The passing of state Senator Bob Stenehjem in Alaska meant that a new majority leader would need to be picked, and tonight Republicans did just that.
Senators Rich Wardner (Dickinson), Jerry Klein (Fessenden), Tony Grindberg (Fargo) and Dick Dever (Bismarck) were all in consideration. Grindberg and Dever were eliminated in the first round of balloting, with a second vote being needed to pick Wardner over Klein.
Stenehjem had been in the state Senate since 1993, and had served as majority leader from 2001 until his death.
Wardner served in the state House from 1991 – 1997 and has been a state Senator since 1999.
