Former North Dakota Attorney General Nick Spaeth has died in Fargo.
Spaeth’s body was found Sunday afternoon at a Fargo residence. He was 64, and had been working for a Fargo law firm. Spaeth served as the state’s Attorney General from 1985 to 1992.
"Nick was a very intelligent, intellectual type individual," said current Democratic NPL Party chairman Bob Valeu. "He administered the law in a very admirable way, during a time in North Dakota where the state was undergoing quite a bit of change, with energy development and things like that. He did a phenomenal job."
"Everybody knew him," said former Gov. Ed Schafer (R). "He was active and busy, and performed well for the state of North Dakota."
Spaeth lost the 1992 Governor’s race to Schafer – after mounting a primary challenge to the Democratic nominee, former state Senate Majority Leader Bill Heigaard of Langdon.
"Coming out of the primary in June, we were 22 points in the hole against Spaeth," said Schafer. "It was a difficult challenge, running against a wildly popular public official."
Valeu says the primary fight between Spaeth and Heigaard caused some hard feelings among party faithful.
"It lingered for some time," said Valeu. "But it's part of the political process. I think that's behind us."
Valeu says the news of Spaeth’s death was disheartening.