Six applicants made Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline for applying to be Workforce Safety and Insurance's next interim director.

The candidates are:

n John Dorso, former North Dakota House majority leader and Fargo-area business owner.

n Bruce Furness, a former mayor of Fargo who was asked to apply by Gov. John Hoeven.

n Peg Haug, a former WSI employee who works at Job Service North Dakota.

n Layne Kertamus, former head of the Montana State Fund, that state's workers' compensation system

n Paul Traynor, a Devils Lake area attorney with experience in insurance issues

n WSI board members on the interim executive director and CEO search committee will be meeting at 11 a.m. today to evaluate the candidates and decide who to interview.

The search comes as the agency is in transition after a tumultuous year. This week, the board dismissed human resources director Billi Peltz, auditor Kay Grinsteinner and chief of support services Jim Long. Last week, consultants called for changes in the leadership of the agency.

John Halvorson is the agency's current director, a position he has held since former director Sandy Blunt was dismissed by the board last fall.

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