Hoeven easily wins GOP nod for governor

Bank of North Dakota president John Hoeven won the state's Republican party nomination for governor on April 1 in Fargo. The 42 year-old Hoeven won his party's endorsement by a nearly two-to-one margin against Senate Majority Leader Gary Nelson of Casselton. The tally was 1,324 for Hoeven, and 687

Hoeven will likely face Democratic-NPL candidate Heidi Heitkamp, the state's attorney general who is expected to gain that parts nomination at its convention April 7-9 in Minot.

Since 1993, Hoeven has led the Bismarck-based Bank of North Dakota, the nation's only state-owned bank. Under Hoeven, the bank's loan portfol. has grown to more than $1 billon. This yea the bank will generate about $30 million in earnings. Bank of North Dakota is the state's fifth-largest source of revenue. Hoeven said he may resign from the bank to devote full-time to the campaign.

Hoeven's campaign appealed to a number of young Republicans as he stressed the notion of increased economic development. After announcing his candidacy in October, Hoeven said he hoped to attract more businesses to the state, improve the out look for agriculture as well as retain North Dakota's young people. Hoeven is a second generation banked whose father, Jack, runs First Western Bank & Trust in Minot.