Sen. Byron Dorgan's state director is retiring, and a Democratic state legislator will succeed him.

Dorgan says Bob Valeu is retiring May 1. Valeu, based in Bismarck, has been Dorgan's director of state operations for 16 years. Valeu also has served as deputy North Dakota secretary of state.

Rutland state Rep. Pam Gulleson will succeed Valeu as Dorgan's state director. She's worked for Dorgan for six years as deputy state director in his Fargo office.

Gulleson says she won't run for re-election to the Legislature this fall. She was first elected to the state House in 1992, and is a former House Democratic assistant minority leader.

- Associated Press