Health, Human Services changes likely, Armstrong says after first Cabinet meeting

December 16, 2024

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong signaled a possible shakeup at the Department of Health and Human Services after his first Cabinet meeting Monday.

Armstrong appointed Dirk Wilke as interim director of the department last Wednesday and has yet to name a new state health officer. In November, Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter and State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi indicated they would not be continuing in their roles after Gov. Doug Burgum left office. 

Armstrong appoints interim Health and Human Services director

Armstrong said the state health officer role could change.

"I have some ideas on restructuring that," said Armstrong, who took office Sunday. "When we combined Health and Human Services, we really kind of created a position that, I think, we have an opportunity to do some unique things with that."

He said he wants to work with the Legislature to look at Health and Human Services in a post-pandemic world.

"I think there's some opportunities that may need some legislative fixes, so I need to build some consensus on what we have for ideas for that first," he said.

Armstrong said he plans to name a permanent director after a robust recruitment and selection process.

He also said he plans to meet with legislators in coming weeks to discuss the more than 50 property tax measures that are expected to be introduced during the legislative session. He said he wants to make sure they can get as many lawmakers as they can on the "same page" during the early weeks of the session.

"It's a priority for the citizens of North Dakota," Armstrong said. "It's a priority for the administration and it will probably be the biggest change from Gov. Burgum's budget."

Armstrong said he wasn't opposed to the Legislature consolidating dozens of bills surrounding property tax reform into one or two larger bills aimed at tackling the issue.

"What we can't have is paralysis by analysis," he said. "Eventually we'll have to get on the same page ... it needs to be the most significant relief and reform we can deliver that's durable."

His definition of durable, Armstrong said, means the reforms must still work even if the prices of oil and agricultural commodities drop.

He said his budget will be available on Jan. 13 and submitted to the legislative appropriations committees two days later. Armstrong will address a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 7.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, left, speaks to reporters next to Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, right, after holding his first Cabinet meeting in the governor's conference room at the Capitol on Dec. 16, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

He said Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden will be a main point of contact on K-12 education and school choice. He added he plans to sit down with Strinden to go over possible additional responsibilities in coming weeks, which could include chairing the State Investment Board.

"Michelle is going to be a huge part of this entire administration, but a lot of it is going to depend on where she feels her time is best spent," he said.

When asked if free school lunches could become a reality for North Dakota students this year, Armstrong said he wants to tackle the property tax reforms first so he knows what that overall cost is before addressing anything else.

Members of Armstrong's Cabinet are:

Joe Morrissette, director of the Office of Management and Budget; Chris Schilken, commissioner of the Department of Commerce; Corey Mock, chief information officer of North Dakota Information Technology; Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard; Col. Daniel Haugen, superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol; Ron Henke, director of the Department of Transportation; Pat Bertagnolli, executive director at Job Service North Dakota; Dave Glatt, director of the Department of Environmental Quality; Art Thompson, director of Workforce Safety & Insurance; Colby Braun, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Jeb Williams, director of the Game and Fish Department; Cody Schulz, director of the Parks and Recreation Department; Lise Kruse, commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions; Brad Hawk, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission; Andrea Travnicek, director of the Department of Water Resources; Tim Karsky, commissioner of the Securities Department; Dirk Wilke, interim commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services; Reice Haase, interim commissioner of the Department of Labor and Human Rights

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