Gov. John Hoeven is no longer introducing Karl Rove as an inductee into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame at this year's Norsk Hostfest in Minot on Sept. 30, the governor's spokesman said today.

Hoeven had been scheduled to introduce Rove, the former political adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush, but today spokesman Don Canton said the governor would be at a send-off ceremony in Bismarck for Army National Guard soldiers going to Iraq, instead.

Amy Willson, an Army National Guard spokeswoman, said the send off ceremony starts at 7 p.m. in Bismarck. It had been scheduled for Oct. 1, but because of a training conflict for the soldiers the ceremony was moved to Sept. 30 about a week ago.

Willson said she did not, "think the governor has ever missed one."

The Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame induction ceremony starts at 7 p.m., too.

Hostfest organizers announced in a full-page newspaper advertisement in August that Hoeven would be introducing Rove at the annual festival. Hoeven also is a member of the hall of fame.

Hoeven's potential introduction drew partisan barbs, prompting a statement today from the Democratic-NPL executive director, Joe Aronson.

"Karl Rove is one of the most dirty, divisive political operatives this country has ever seen," Aronson said in today's statement. "John Hoeven should be ashamed and embarrassed by this, and North Dakotans need to hold him accountable for rewarding Rove for being a hatchet man."

Canton said it was Hostfest's decision to induct Rove into the hall of fame and that the governor told the festival's organizers that he would introduce Rove only if he had no scheduling conflicts.

Canton said the governor did not know that festival organizers were sending out an advertisement to North Dakota newspapers.

When asked if Rove's controversial reputation played a part in Hoeven's decision to not introduce him, Canton said,"The Hostfest asked him to do this, he's a supporter of Hostfest. It's a shame that (Aronson is) attacking (Hoeven) for a decision that was not made by (Hoeven)."

Rove, a regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal and contributor to Fox News, is usually seen as a politically dividing figure, said Mark Jendrysik, University of North Dakota political science professor.

He is under investigation by U.S. Justice Department for his alleged role in the 2006 U.S. Attorney firings. U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said that Rove was a "driving force" behind them.

Still, Rove would likely serve as a rallying point for Republicans, Jendrysik said, which would help Hoeven, who is considering a bid against Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., in 2010.

"I think it's very silly," Jendrysik said of the criticism directed at Hoeven."Mr. Rove is somebody many people feel served President Bush well. He's apparently Norwegian. In some ways it increases national attention on Hostfest."

Requests for an interview with Rove are pending. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., also is being inducted into the hall of fame this year.

Other inductees include former Vice President Walter Mondale, former Gov. Ed Schafer and former Gov. George Sinner.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or at brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com)