Ragnvald Nestos
Ragnvald Anderson Nestos ( born April 12, 1877 in Voss, Norway, † July 15, 1942 in Minot, North Dakota ) was a U.S. Representative from 1921-1925 and the 13th Governor of the State of North Dakota.
Early years and political rise
From a young age came Nestos with his parents from Norway to Buxton, North Dakota. There, he first of all had to learn English. He attended local schools and earned as a laborer in various jobs his money. Among other things, he was also a lumberjack. He later continued his education at the University of Wisconsin and the University of North Dakota. At the latter university he made his law degree in 1904. Then he began a successful career as a lawyer in Minot.
Between 1911 and 1913, was Nestos deputy in the House of Representatives from North Dakota. From 1913 to 1917 he served as district attorney in Ward County. Meanwhile, Nestos, who was originally of the Republican Party was joined the Independent Voters Association ( IVA ) and was chosen as their candidate at a special gubernatorial election as the new governor of North Dakota. The special election was necessary because the opposition against the incumbent Governor Lynn Frazier had become increasingly stronger. A short time before, which came into force constitutional amendment made this special election possible. Background were political conflicts between the two newly formed parties NPL and IVA ( see below). The opposition IVA saw in the industry Commission and the establishment of state enterprises under Governor Frazier a reason for the then arisen economic crisis and successfully operating the dismissal of the governor by a recall. Frazier was the first governor of a U.S. state, who lost his position in this way. Overall, this process repeated until today only once in California in 2003, when Governor Gray Davis was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
New parties in North Dakota
In the years after 1915 the two traditional parties, the Republicans and the Democrats were entered into North Dakota something in the background. For the Nonpartisan League ( NPL) and the Independent Voters Association ( IVA ) had taken their place temporarily. Both stood in sharp opposition to each other. The more socialist viewpoints representing NPL was briefly organized nationwide, but achieved its greatest success in North Dakota. With Lynn Frazier and Walter Maddock put them in this state 1917-1929 two governors. The IVA was founded as an opposition to the NPL by conservative and capitalist forces whose interests they represented. With Nestos Ragnvald and George F. Shafer put them in the 1920s, also has two governors. Since 1933, both parties played no greater role more in North Dakota. The Republicans and the Democrats put the old balance of power restored.
Governor of North Dakota
After winning the special election Nestos took up his new post on 23 November 1921. After winning in 1922, the regular elections, he could serve until January 7, 1925 as governor. During this time the position of a state health director was created, which roughly corresponds to a Minister of Health. In addition, the state banking system was reformed. Also in this period took North Dakota, the nationwide registration system of births and deaths. Nestos also promoted the education policy and fought mainly illiteracy. But in 1924 Nestos tried unsuccessfully to obtain a third term.
After the end of his governorship Nestos was working as a lawyer again. In 1932 he was after he had gone back to the Republicans, a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Nestos Ragnvald, who remained unmarried all his life, died in 1942.