A screening committee is seeking more applicants for a seat on North Dakota's Board of Higher Education.

Only four people applied for the opening, including incumbent John Q. Paulsen of Fargo. Paulsen is the board's president, and he's seeking a second four-year term.

North Dakota school superintendent Wayne Sanstead is chairman of the screening committee.

Sanstead says the number may be down because prospective applicants believe Gov. John Hoeven will pick Paulsen for a second term.

The five-member screening committee met Tuesday, and members were supposed to forward the names of three finalists to Hoeven. But members voted instead to seek more applications. The new deadline is April 30.

Other applicants are Robert Harms of Bismarck, Robert Wetsch of Mandan and Heather Hertz of Mott.

- Associated Press