Drew Wrigley
Encyclopedia
Drew Wrigley is the 37th and current Lieutenant Governor
of North Dakota
. He was appointed by Governor
Jack Dalrymple
on December 7, 2010. Wrigley previously served as U.S. District Attorney for North Dakota (2001–2009), as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor John Hoeven
(2000), and as Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party
.
, Wrigley grew up in Fargo, North Dakota
, where he graduated from Fargo South High School
; he is a fourth-generation North Dakotan, with roots in Burke County
and Walsh County
. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota
in Grand Forks, ND, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He completed his Juris Doctorate at American University
in Washington, DC. After law school, he served as an assistant district attorney in Philadephia, PA before returning to North Dakota.
George W. Bush
appointed Wrigley to be the United States District Attorney for North Dakota. In this capacity, he was responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes committed in the state. His most famous case was the Dru Sjodin
kidnapping and murder. Wrigley successfully prosecuted Alfonso Rodriguez, a repeat sex offender from Crookston, Minnesota
, for the kidnap, rape, and murder of Sjodin (he was sentenced to death on Sept. 22nd, 2006).
had just been elected to the U.S. Senate). Wrigley was sworn into office on Dec. 7th, 2010, following the swearing in of Governor Dalrymple.
Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota is a political office in North Dakota. The Lieutenant Governor's duty is to preside as President of the Senate, and is responsible for legislative relations, the state budget and agri-business development. Should the Governor's office become vacant, the...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He was appointed by Governor
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
Jack Dalrymple
Jack Dalrymple
John "Jack" Dalrymple is a North Dakota politician and businessman who is the current Governor of North Dakota, and a one-time candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992. Dalrymple became governor after the resignation of John Hoeven, who was elected to the U.S...
on December 7, 2010. Wrigley previously served as U.S. District Attorney for North Dakota (2001–2009), as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor John Hoeven
John Hoeven
John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...
(2000), and as Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
.
Education and early career
A native of Bismarck, North DakotaBismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, Wrigley grew up in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, where he graduated from Fargo South High School
Fargo South High School
Fargo South High School is a public high school built in 1967 and located in Fargo, North Dakota. The main campus serves about 1,600 students, while freshmen attend South Campus II , bringing the total student population to around 2,100. The school is a part of the Fargo Public Schools system...
; he is a fourth-generation North Dakotan, with roots in Burke County
Burke County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge *Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,242 people, 1,013 households, and 680 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.0 people per square mile...
and Walsh County
Walsh County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,389 people, 5,029 households, and 3,319 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 5,757 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
in Grand Forks, ND, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He completed his Juris Doctorate at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, DC. After law school, he served as an assistant district attorney in Philadephia, PA before returning to North Dakota.
U.S. District Attorney
In 2001, PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed Wrigley to be the United States District Attorney for North Dakota. In this capacity, he was responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes committed in the state. His most famous case was the Dru Sjodin
Dru Sjodin
Dru Katrina Sjodin , a student of the University of North Dakota and a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, was a murder victim...
kidnapping and murder. Wrigley successfully prosecuted Alfonso Rodriguez, a repeat sex offender from Crookston, Minnesota
Crookston, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,192 people, 3,078 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,658.8 people per square mile . There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 684.8 per square mile...
, for the kidnap, rape, and murder of Sjodin (he was sentenced to death on Sept. 22nd, 2006).
Appointment
On Nov. 4th, 2010, then-Lt. Governor Dalrymple designated Wrigley as his successor once his transition of the governor's office was completed (then-Governor John HoevenJohn Hoeven
John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...
had just been elected to the U.S. Senate). Wrigley was sworn into office on Dec. 7th, 2010, following the swearing in of Governor Dalrymple.