Former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman was surprised last week to read about his death.

A recent issue of the political consultants' trade magazine Campaigns and Elections reported that Adam Hamm had been appointed to fill out the term of the recently deceased Poolman.

Poolman resigned as insurance commissioner last August, 16 months before his term was to expire, to establish a private consulting firm.

Poolman says that after he was done laughing, he e-mailed the magazine's editors to let them know he is very much alive.

- Associated Press