A county prosecutor was named the newest member of the Racing Commission on Thursday to replace Jim Boehm, a Morton County resident who resigned last week.

Gov. John Hoeven named Adams County State's Attorney Tom Secrest to replace Boehm, who said last week he planned to resign after the commission hired a new director. Boehm had served on the commission since 2002.

The five-member commission oversees the regulatory functions of live and off-track horse racing.

Secrest, who has practiced law in Hettinger since 1961, has raced quarter horses and paint horses in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Oklahoma. Although he is no longer involved in horse racing, he currently breeds and sells paint horses. He was appointed to a five-year term.

Although the commission has had to deal with controversies the past few years, Secrest said he's not afraid to tackle problems.

"No matter what the problems are, they can be solved,"Secrest said.

The horse racing industry suffered a setback in 2003 when it was announced that Racing Services Inc., which provided simulcast service to betting sites across the state, was under investigation for running an illegal gambling parlor in Fargo, which handled $99 million in bets. Susan Bala, founder and former president of the company, was found guilty of 12 felonies and sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Secrest, who applied for a position on the Racing Commission two years ago, said he was contacted by the governor's office and asked if he was still interested in serving.

Hoeven also named Commissioner Jim Arthaud, of Medora, to serve as chairman of the commission. Boehm had been chairman before resigning.

Arthaud said Hoeven asked him to serve as chairman and he gladly accepted. Arthaud will serve as chairman for the remainder of his term, which expires June 30, 2007.

Soon after Secrest begins serving, it is expected a new director will be hired.

The commission voted last Friday to hire Randy Blaseg as director, but didn't immediately take action on when he would start or what he would be paid. Blaseg's salary and starting date will be discussed at the commission's next meeting on Tuesday.

Blaseg, a rancher from Whitewood, S.D., also is a horse racing steward in North Dakota and South Dakota.

It is still unclear if Blaseg will be hired full time.

Commissioner DeAnn Pladson said she is open to the idea of hiring him for 30 hours a week.