Nov 06, 2008 - 04:06:05 CST
Republican Adam Hamm will continue to be the state insurance commissioner after defeating his Democratic-NPL opponent Jasper Schneider in a nail-biter election.In one of the tightest races this year, Hamm took 50.3 percent of the vote, beating Schneider by 1,781 ballots, according to the unofficial election tallies listed by the secretary of state on Wednesday. Schneider took 49.7 percent, with 299,639 voters casting a ballot.
Schneider called Hamm Wednesday morning to congratulate him on the victory after the final numbers from Mercer County were counted, showing Hamm positioned for the victory and an automatic recount out of the question.
"I congratulate Commissioner Hamm on his victory and I look forward to working with him in the Legislature on the issues that we both care so much about," Schneider said, calling the campaign spirited and well-fought.
Election workers in Mercer County spent all night making sure their results were correct and didn't report them until 9 a.m. CST on Wednesday, said Mercer County Auditor Monte Erhardt.
"We didn't want to rush through and report results that were inaccurate," Erhardt said.
Hamm has already spent a year in the insurance commissioner post after Gov. John Hoeven appointed him in October 2007. Hamm replaced Jim Poolman, who resigned.
Hamm is a former Cass County prosecutor and trial lawyer from Fargo.
"My focus is now on the future, not the past," Hamm said of the election. "The campaign is over."
Hamm said he will continue to focus on bringing more insurance competition into the state and ensuring consumer protection.
He said he also will send a proposal to the Legislature next session that will give the insurance department more oversight of Workforce Safety and Insurance.
Schneider also is a Fargo attorney who also serves as a representative in the state Legislature. He was elected in 2006 and will return to the Legislature for the 2009 session.
He said he would continue to focus on the issues he campaigned on during his nearly year-long bid for the insurance commissioner, including expanding health insurance to children and reforming WSI.
Hamm's first year in office has included three rate increase denials for the state's largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and dealing with the aftermath of the Northwood tornado.
Schneider criticized Hamm throughout the campaign for what he called politically motivated decisions, including the Blues rate increase denials.
(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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