An administrative law judge has been named to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. As Prairie Public's Dave Thompson reports, Gov. Jack Dalrymple appointed Bonny Fetch to serve out the rest of Tony Clark’s term.
Clark resigned last week to join the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Clark was up for re-election this year, but decided not to seek another term.
Fetch has been a state employee for 40 years, and has been with the Office of Administrative Hearings since it was established in 1991. Fetch says she has been an ALJ for several PSC cases.
"I find the issues that come before the Commission to be very interesting," Fetch said. "Certainly, they're very critical to our state. This is something that appealed to me. I certainly didn't go seeking it, but it came to me as an opportunity, and I decided that I would take it."
Fetch says she sees this as a way to broaden her public service.
"The benefit I see in doing this is the opportunity to serve the state in yet another way, and in a way that broadens my horizons," said Fetch. "It gives me a chance to help create public policy. I'm excited about the opportunity."
Fetch will return to the Office of Administrative Hearings January first. Republican State Senator Randy Christmann and Democrat Brad Crabtree are running for Clark’s seat.