Highway Patrol Chief to Head North Dakota Workers’ Comp Agency

Former North Dakota Highway Patrol superintendent Bryan Klipfel has been named the state’s new workers compensation director by Gov. John Hoeven.

It’s the governor’s first hire since North Dakota voters decided last November the governor should have power to hire the director of Workforce Safety and Insurance. Before, an appointed board of directors had the authority.

Klipfel succeeds interim director Bruce Furness. The agency has not had a permanent director since Sandy Blunt was dismissed in December 2007.

While Hoeven said Klipfel has strong management and people skills, House Republican Majority, Leader Al Carlson said Hoeven should have chosen someone with a background in insurance or workers’ compensation or who has some knowledge of what the agency does.