Jim Long, a suspended Workforce Safety and Insurance employee, told the Tribune Saturday that he's running as a Democrat for the state Senate.

With a home east of Lincoln, Long is set up to take on state Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden. He is officially seeking the Democratic Party nomination today at the District 14 convention.

Long, 38, said the problems at his agency are his main motivation for running.

"I had a position at WSI where I've found myself unable to fix it from within. Now I want to fix it from outside," he said.

Long was chief of support services at the agency until his November suspension. An e-mail from WSI's attorney said Long's effectiveness "has become compromised to the point that we must step back and regroup."

Long contends the suspension is retailatory for his cooperation in a criminal investigation into former WSI executive director Sandy Blunt.

He said he'll work to solve problems in the agency that have made it a subject of outside turmoil, a criminal investigation and a management shakeup over the last year. He also said he'd be more personally involved with state employees in his district if they encounter similar situations.

Although WSI is Long's main issue, he said he doesn't intend to be "a one-trick pony."

"I'm looking forward to dealing with many other issues, especially employment issues," he said.

As chairman of the Senate Industrial Business and Labor Committee, Long's opponent has been heavily involved with reviewing past legislation aimed at making changes at WSI.

Klein did not return a call for comment Saturday night.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli.)@bismarcktribune.com