A state Labor Department investigator announced plans Tuesday to run for the Public Service Commission, saying the three-person, all-Republican panel of regulators needs a consumer advocate.

Ron Gumeringer, 48, is the first declared Democratic candidate for the job. He is seeking the party endorsement to run against Republican Kevin Cramer, whom Gov. John Hoeven appointed to the commission last summer.

One of Gumeringer's priorities will be to promote wind energy development, he said. Wind turbines are a clean, environmentally sound source of electricity, and farmers who host them can make money from their presence, he said.

"The consumers of North Dakota want and deserve a public service commissioner who understands the plight of everyday working families, and who will fight for them," he said.

Gumeringer, a native of Esmond, a rural community about 50 miles west of Devils Lake, sought the Democratic endorsement two years ago to run against incumbent Commissioner Susan Wefald. Democrats chose former state Rep. Bob Stefonowicz, D-Wildrose, as their candidate instead. Wefald defeated him.

The Public Service Commission regulates utilities, grain elevators, coal mining and land reclamation, telephone companies and pipelines. It has some regulatory jurisdiction over railroads.

Its members are Cramer, Wefald and Tony Clark, who serves as the commission's president. All three are Republicans.

Gumeringer described the panel as "very partisan. It needs a consumer advocate. It needs someone of progressive vision."

Cramer said he, Wefald and Clark all take consumers' interests into account in everything they do. For example, the commission applied careful scrutiny to a recent Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. request to raise electric rates, he said.

Montana-Dakota eventually accepted a 1.2 percent rate rise instead of the 9.1 percent increase the utility initially requested, Cramer said.

"Every single day, what we do here is advocate for the greater good, whether it's a rate case for a utility or advocating for lower rates for grain dealers with the railroad," Cramer said.

Gumeringer investigates complaints that come into the Labor Department, including disputes over wage payments and employment discrimination.

He said his background has equipped him to ask the right questions of utilities that are seeking a rate increase, and other companies that are lobbying the commission.

Gumeringer grew up on a farm southwest of Esmond, and he said he is sensitive to the need for good reclamation of land that has been mined for coal.

"Coming from a farm, you understand the importance of maintaining the soil, because that gives you your livelihood," he said. "I definitely understand the importance of stewardship, proper reclamation, proper usages of the land."

Cramer joined the Public Service Commission on Aug. 1. Gov. John Hoeven appointed him to succeed longtime incumbent Leo Reinbold.

Reinbold's term ends in December, and Cramer intends to run for a full six-year term on the commission. He will make a formal announcement in late January.