Dalrymple Says He's Prepared to be Governor

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple says he's ready to

take over North Dakota's top job if Gov. John Hoeven wins a U.S.

Senate seat this fall.

Dalrymple says he may even be interested in running for governor

himself in two years.

The 61-year-old Dalrymple has been Hoeven's second-in-command

since they were first elected in 2000. In the governor's office,

Dalrymple is in charge of agricultural policy, the state budget and

legislative relations.

Dalrymple served for 16 years in the North Dakota House and is a

former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

He ran for the U.S Senate himself in 1992. Dalrymple lost to

Democrat Kent Conrad in a special election that followed the death

of incumbent Democratic Sen. Quentin Burdick.

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