This week's announcement that Rep. Pat Galvin, R-Hazen, won't seek re-election in 2006 has sparked interest, but neither Republicans nor Democrats are naming candidates yet.

Galvin, who was first elected in 1995, said he is retiring so that he can have his winters free to travel with his wife, Carol.

"I'm not too keen on spending a whole winter in a hotel,"Galvin said of living in Bismarck when the Legislature is in session.

Galvin said he never planned on a career in politics and that he is OK with leaving the position because the district is still held by Republicans.

"Inever did think that local politics should be a career,"Galvin said.

Galvin, 80, said he is in good health physically and mentally.

Rudolph Hildebrand, one of the Democrats who ran against Galvin in 2002, said it could be difficult to find a Democratic candidate.

Hildebrand said the only reason he ran in 2002 was because party members asked him to - fearing that Republicans wouldn't have any opponent.

Hildebrand, 88, said it's hard to find Democratic candidates because some of them think they are "putting their heads on the chopping block to see how far they roll,"when they run against Republicans.

Hildebrand said he would like to see Oliver County State's Attorney John Mahoney run again. Mahoney, who has previously served in the Legislature, was defeated in 2002, but he was only 235 votes away from winning one of two seats.

Mahoney could not be immediately reached by the Tribune for comment Friday.

Galvin said the the job of finding his replacement has already begun, but he didn't name any people he thought might run.

A rocky recovery

David Strauss, chairman of the Democratic-NPL party, is having a rocky recovery from a broken leg he suffered from a bicycle accident Aug. 4 in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL state party Vice Chair, Mary Wakefield announced Friday that Strauss has had a setback in his recovery.

He initially expected to be released from the hospital within five days, but Strauss will remain in the hospital until at least Sept. 12. Minor complications from the injury have required a more lengthy stay.

"David is humbled with the outpouring of support and well wishes, and will be responding when his health allows," Wakefield said.

Well wishes and inquiries may continue to be made through the North Dakota Democratic Party Office.

Higher ed study

A legislative committee chose MGTof America, a Tallahassee, Fla., company to conduct a study of the higher education system.

The Legislative Council chose the company Thursday from a list of five.

The study, which was approved as part of the university system's funding bill, will include a review of the university system's long-term financing plan.

Funding among the schools was a major issue in the 2005 Legislature and prompted some lawmakers to call for changes to a formula used to determine funding equity among schools.

Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, hopes the study provides some useful results.

"The key for us is that we want to get to the bottom of this and we want straightforward answers,"Carlson said.

Rep. Merle Boucher, D-Rolette, said even though he is skeptical of some studies, he thinks this one is warranted.

"I think, in this particular case, the need and the timing is well intended,"Boucher said.

MGTof America's proposal calls for a budget of $175,000 for the study.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)