Wayne Stenehjem
Encyclopedia
Wayne Stenehjem is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state
of North Dakota
. He is the current Attorney General of the state, serving since 2000.
, and he graduated from Bismarck High School
in 1971 and Bismarck State College
in 1972. He attended the University of North Dakota
and the UND School of Law
, graduating in 1977. Stenehjem was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives
in 1976, and served two terms there until 1980 when he was elected to the North Dakota Senate
. He served in that capacity until 2000 when he became Attorney General of North Dakota. While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, Stenehjem proposed legislation to curb methamphetamine
use and addiction in the state, by restricting retail sales of certain products used in its manufacture, to provide mandatory treatment for first time drug offenders, and increase criminal penalties for drug offenders. Stenehjem was re-elected in 2004 and 2006, with wide margins - averaging 70% of the vote.
He is married to Beth Bakke Stenehjem, and has one son, Andrew. He is also the brother of North Dakota Senate
Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem
, who died in 2011.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He is the current Attorney General of the state, serving since 2000.
Biography
Wayne Stenehjem was born in Mohall, North DakotaMohall, North Dakota
At the 2000 census, there were 812 people, 340 households and 214 families residing in the city. The population density was 747.9 per square mile . There were 397 housing units at an average density of 365.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.40% White, 0.74% Native American,...
, and he graduated from Bismarck High School
Bismarck High School
Bismarck High School is a public high school located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It currently serves 1,457 students and is a part of the Bismarck Public Schools system...
in 1971 and Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College
Bismark State College is the third largest college in the North Dakota University System with approximately 4200 students. It is a comprehensive community college that offers two-year and four-year degree plans. BSC offers the first two years of education toward a bachelor's degree in most fields...
in 1972. He attended the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
and the UND School of Law
University of North Dakota School of Law
The University of North Dakota School of Law is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota at the University of North Dakota and is the only law school in the state of North Dakota. Established in 1899, the law school is home to approximately 235 students and has more than 3,000 alumni...
, graduating in 1977. Stenehjem was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
in 1976, and served two terms there until 1980 when he was elected to the North Dakota Senate
North Dakota Senate
The North Dakota Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, smaller than the North Dakota House of Representatives.North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census...
. He served in that capacity until 2000 when he became Attorney General of North Dakota. While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, Stenehjem proposed legislation to curb methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
use and addiction in the state, by restricting retail sales of certain products used in its manufacture, to provide mandatory treatment for first time drug offenders, and increase criminal penalties for drug offenders. Stenehjem was re-elected in 2004 and 2006, with wide margins - averaging 70% of the vote.
He is married to Beth Bakke Stenehjem, and has one son, Andrew. He is also the brother of North Dakota Senate
North Dakota Senate
The North Dakota Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, smaller than the North Dakota House of Representatives.North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census...
Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem
Bob Stenehjem
Robert "Bob" Stenehjem was a North Dakota Republican politician, serving in the North Dakota Senate for District 30. He was the Senate Majority Leader. Stenehjem ran for the Republican nomination for a seat on the North Dakota Public Service Commission in 2008 to succeed the retiring Commissioner,...
, who died in 2011.
Career
- North Dakota House of RepresentativesNorth Dakota House of RepresentativesThe North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
(1976—1979) - North Dakota SenateNorth Dakota SenateThe North Dakota Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, smaller than the North Dakota House of Representatives.North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census...
(1980—2000)- Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995—2000)
- North Dakota Attorney GeneralNorth Dakota Attorney GeneralThe North Dakota Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the North Dakota state government. The current Attorney General is Wayne Stenehjem...
(2001—present)