John H. Hoeven III ’79

On being the "CEO governor" of North Dakota

"The economy is the enginethat drives everything. Coming from banking, I have verymuch of a business focus. I ran for office because I wanted to bring economic development to North Dakota—a higher standard of living. We've increased family income. We've reduced families living in poverty. In the most recent statistics (2003) North Dakota led the nation in personal income growth and was second in wage growth."

"North Dakota's population is growing for the first time in eight years. We're growing in the 24- to 64-year-old age group."

"People gravitate to opportunities, 'Brain drain' is a concern for several states, including ours. We're addressing that with a real focus on careers. Our 'centers of excellence' are partnerships between business and higher education that will create jobs."

"Running for office is a job interview. Voters get a sense of the individual who is a candidate. You can come from any background."

"I can't think of a question to which I'd say, 'Nocomment.'"

"Voters need to know where you want to go andhow you're going to get there. Then you have to 4 work to implement your plan."

"I didn't have a set of expectations as to what being governor would be like so I can't say what the biggest adjustments have been. North Dakotans are very friendly and relaxed and it's an honor to serve as

landscape it shouldn't come down to red states or blue states; it's much more complicated than that. North Dakota has Democratic senators and a Democratic congressman."

"North Dakota's image is changing. We have a very high education level. We have outstanding technology. We also have a higher percentage of people who hunt and fish than any other state. Tourism is our second fastest growing industry."

"They called the movie Fargo because they didn't like the nameBrainerd [Minnesota], where it was shot. They probably should have called it Brainerd. I don't think the depiction of North Dakota was very fair. I've lived in Hanover and Chicago, and there's no appreciable difference when it comes to winter."

"Instead of fighting for credit, it's important to get things done. Then media aspects can follow. People in government should be fighting about substantive issues."

"As a governor you're inclined to favor states' rights—and tobe watchful of unfunded mandates."

"I'm a strong believer in the Second Amendment. North Dakotans know how to handle arms; we don't have the issues some other states have. Statistically, we're the safest state in the country."

"So-called campaign finance 'reform' has made it moredifficult to generate money in a straightforward way.It's confusing even to the candidates. There should be a simple, rational way to raise money, but you have to be able to live with the reality."

"We live in an age of sound bites, where thingsget oversimplified.""I got to fly on Air Force One with President Bushafter the State of the Union address. Mikey and I also had the opportunity to stay at the White House. The best part was visiting with the president and first lady about matters of mutual interest."

"I know a lot of governors who have goneon to serve in the Cabinet and who aredoing a fine job. Any rime the president asks someone to serve, they have to gat consider it carefully. Most tell me they enjoy it but find it's much tougher to get things done."

EDUCATION: A.B., history (with economics minor), Phi Beta Kappa; Northwestern, 1981 CAREER: Republican governor of North Dakota since 2.000; president and CEO (1998), Bank of North Dakota, 1993-2000; executive vice president, First Western Bank & Trust, 1986-1993 NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: Won reelection as governor with more than 71 percent of the vote, 2004; chairman, Minot Area Development Corp., 1991-1993; North Dakota Small Business Financial Advocate of the Year and U.S. Small Business Administration Region VII Financial Advocate of the Year, 1994 FAMILY: Wife Mikey; children Marcela and Jack; Dartmouth relatives include dad John H. Hoeven Jr. '52