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Controversial SD economic development leader picked for cabinet job in ND

Chris Shilken was commissioner of the Governor's Office of Economic Development but withdrew in February before Senate confirmation amid revalations about Freedom Works Here marketing campaign.

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North Dakota Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong, flanked by Lt. Gov.-elect Michelle Strinden, speaks to the press Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at the Ronald Reagan Republican Center in Bismarck.
Peyton Haug Forum News Service

BISMARCK — The former head of the Governor's Office of Economic Development in South Dakota has been picked for a cabinet post in North Dakota.

North Dakota Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong has named most of his Cabinet members, including a Democrat. Also included in that list is Chris Schilken, who will head the Department of Commerce.

Schilken served as South Dakota’s economic development commissioner from June 2023 through February. He stepped down from the position after facing sharp criticism from lawmakers over the Freedom Works Here workforce development program and spending $2.5 million from the Future Fund to support a professional rodeo in Sioux Falls.

Because Schilken was appointed by Gov. Kristi Noem when the Legislature wasn't in session. He had been serving without confirmation by the state Senate. That vote was looming when he decided to withdraw his name amid the ongoing controversy and criticism and took a different job within the agency.

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Chris Schilken, commissioner of the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Armstrong announced 12 Cabinet members on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Most of the appointments from the announcement are ones he inherited from Gov. Doug Burgum.

Armstrong, a Republican who is the U.S. representative for North Dakota, won the general election with 68% of the vote, according to the Secretary of State’s website. He will take office on Dec. 15.

There will be new faces in Armstrong’s Cabinet, including a Democrat from Grand Forks. North Dakota Rep. Corey Mock will take over for Greg Hoffman as the state’s chief information officer at the Information Technology Department, according to a release from Armstrong.

Mock is a Realtor and leadership consultant who has represented Grand Forks in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2009.

Burgum appointed Hoffman to head the IT department in July after Kuldip Mohanty resigned from the position.

Read all the stories digging into the details of the governor's marketing effort to attract workers to South Dakota and the contract with an Ohio firm to do the work.

Schilken is replacing Josh Teigen, who has been the North Dakota commerce commissioner since September 2022. Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller chose Teigen as her running mate during her gubernatorial campaign against Armstrong.

Miller and Teigen lost to Armstrong and his running mate, North Dakota Rep. Michelle Strinden, in the Republican primary election.

Joe Morissette will replace Susan Sisk as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. He previously served in the position under Burgum from 2018 to 2022.

Sisk took over for Morisette in 2023 after he retired from the post.

Burgum Cabinet members who will keep their positions in the Armstrong administration are:

  • Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general
  • Ron Henke, Department of Transportation director
  • Pat Bertagnolli, executive director of Job Service North Dakota
  • Dave Glatt, Department of Environmental Quality director
  • Art Thompson, Workforce Safety & Insurance director
  • Colby Braun, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation director
  • Jeb Williams, Game and Fish Department director
  • Cody Schulz, Parks and Recreation Department director
  • Lise Kruse, Department of Financial Institutions commissioner

There are eight positions left to fill in Armstrong’s Cabinet. That includes a replacement for state Highway Patrol superintendent.

Col. Brandon Solberg announced in June that he planned to retire from the position at the end of November. He will become the Office of Management and Budget’s facility management director.

The Forum reported Wednesday that Dr. Nizar Wehbi, the state’s health officer, and Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter would not continue in their positions under Armstrong.

Other posts to be filled include Indian Affairs Commission executive director, which is held by Brad Hawk; Labor and Human Rights commissioner, held by Nathan Svihovec; Securities director, held by Karen Tyler; Water Resources director, held by Andrea Travnicek; and chief people officer, held by Molly Herrington.

Armstrong is considering those positions and will announce shortly who will fill those posts, Deputy Chief of Staff Jacy Schafer told The Forum.

Outgoing Gov. Burgum, a Republican, decided not to seek a third term in office and was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as secretary of the Interior.

April Baumgarten has been a journalist in North Dakota since 2011. She joined The Forum in February 2019 as an investigative reporter. Readers can reach her at 701-241-5417 or abaumgarten@forumcomm.com.