The Workforce Safety and Insurance board of directors could get an overhaul next year, and not because of a ballot measure.

Six spots on the WSIboard are up for grabs as six members' terms expire Dec. 31:Board chair Mark Gjovig, Michael Gallagher, J.P. Weist, John Eickhof, Terry Curl and Ed Grossbauer.

All but Gjovig and Weist were finishing out unexpired terms for members who retired before their terms were complete.

Gjovig, who's chaired the board since Bob Indvik resigned in January due to allegations surrounding his use of state money and time to conduct WSIbusiness, said all but Eickhof want to be considered for reappointment.

Mark Armstrong with WSI said Eickhof had no comment regarding his decision to not re-apply.

Gjovig doesn't want to leave right before the legislative session, he said, where the contentious WSI -under fire in the last two years for alleged misspending, morale issues and questionable management -will most likely be a heated topic.

In fact, if ballot Measure 4 passes- giving the governor the power to hire the agency's director, which is a current charge of the board- the agency's governance model may come in front of the Legislature once again.

"Ijust think there's unfinished business here,"Gjovig said about requesting to be considered for another term. "I've only been the chairman for the year."

Aseven-person committee drafted from the heads of several statewide business associations is charged with finding three candidates for each of the four employer representative positions, currently held by Gjovig, Gallagher, Weist and Eickhof.

The committee set a deadline of Nov. 14 to receive applications and will meet on Nov. 24 to discuss their candidates; they must submit three candidates to the governor, of which he can either choose one or reject the list.

At a meeting Tuesday, the committee decided to ask for new applications from the incumbent board members so all applicants will be on a level playing field.

"It's keeping the process as objective as possible,"said Russ Hanson, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of North Dakota.

According to statute, a similar process is in place for Curl's board seat as the organized labor representative:a statewide labor organization must submit a list of three potential candidates for the governor to choose from.

Grossbauer's position is appointed by the governor, not selected from a list of recommendations submitted by a committee.

(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)