RAPID CITY, S.D. (June 27, 2018) – The Western Governors’ Association today named North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as vice chairman for the 2018-2019 year, on the final day of the association’s three-day annual meeting in Rapid City.
Burgum was elected to serve as vice chair under Hawaii Gov. David Ige, who was elected chairman for 2018-2019. The vice chairman has traditionally served as chairman the following year. Today’s announcement was made by South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard as he concluded his yearlong term as chairman.
“It’s an honor to be elected to a leadership position with the Western Governors’ Association, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of bipartisan policy development that has characterized WGA over the years,” Burgum said. “We thank Gov. Daugaard for his excellent leadership over these past 12 months, and I look forward to working with Gov. Ige and all of the governors to strengthen our states through collaboration.”
Burgum concluded the meeting by announcing the results of the governors’ work on policy resolutions. The 11 new resolutions include an updated resolution that incorporates the outcomes of the first year of WGA’s Workforce Development Initiative.
Govs. Steve Bullock of Montana, Gary Herbert of Utah, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Matt Mead of Wyoming and Butch Otter of Idaho also attended the meeting. The governors heard keynote addresses from U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Philip Anschutz, chairman of Anschutz Corp.
The WGA represents the governors of 19 western states and three U.S. territories, supporting bipartisan policy development, the exchange of best practices and ideas, and collective action on issues of critical importance to the western United States such as agriculture, energy, water economic development and natural resource development. Topics discussed at this year’s annual meeting included the opioid epidemic, wildfires and workforce development.