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A state senator has introduced a bill to make the State Health Officer and the director of the Department of Human Services elected positions.
Right now, both are appointed.
Sen. Jason Heitkamp (R-Wyndmere) said the suggestion comes from a constituent. He said the Health Officer has a lot of power, as evidenced by the orders during the pandemic emergency. If the state health officer has the power to shut down a lot of our state, it should be elected, Heitkamp said.
Heitkamp said he has seen a number of health officers since Gov. Doug Burgum (R) was elected. He s appointed people and gotten rid of them, Heitkamp said. This is something we should look into, that the person gets elected, so that they just can t be used to shut down the state, and then gotten rid of, if they won t do the whims of the Governor.