{{short description|Republican politician from North Dakota|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Randy Christmann | office = Member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission | governor = Jack Dalrymple<br>Doug Burgum<br>Kelly Armstrong | term_start = January 15, 2013 | term_end = | predecessor = Bonny Fetch | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|6|16}} | birth_place = Hazen, North Dakota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = North Dakota State University (BA) }} '''Randel Christmann''' is a Republican politician from North Dakota. He represented the 33rd district in the North Dakota Senate from 1995 to 2013.<ref name="senate">[http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/62-2011/senate/senators/bios/rchristmann.html Senate biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406164032/http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/62-2011/senate/senators/bios/rchristmann.html |date=2012-04-06 }}</ref><ref name="bismarck">{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://bismarcktribune.com/app/news/database/view.php?e=16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123215609/http://bismarcktribune.com/app/news/database/view.php?e=16 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |website=The Bismarck Tribune |access-date=23 January 2024 }}</ref><ref name="la">[http://advocacycenter.lachamber.com/voter-resources/official/7645/L/ND/Randel/Christmann Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130127091842/http://advocacycenter.lachamber.com/voter-resources/official/7645/L/ND/Randel/Christmann |date=2013-01-27 }}</ref><ref name="dallas">[http://publicpolicy.dallaschamber.org/voter-resources/official/7645/L/ND/Randel/Christmann Dallas Regional Chamber]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2012, he was elected to the North Dakota Public Service Commission, as one of three members elected statewide.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Christmann earns tough win in North Dakota Public Service Commission race |url=http://www.wday.com/content/christmann-earns-tough-win-north-dakota-public-service-commission-race |newspaper=WDAY-TV |location=Fargo |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=April 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420182819/http://www.wday.com/content/christmann-earns-tough-win-north-dakota-public-service-commission-race |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life & Education== Randel Christmann was born on June 16, 1960, in Hazen, North Dakota.<ref name="la"/><ref name="dallas"/> He graduated from Hazen High School and attended North Dakota State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1982.<ref name="senate"/><ref name="bismarck"/><ref name="la"/><ref name="dallas"/>
A rancher, he served in the North Dakota Army National Guard from 1977 to 1983.<ref name="senate"/><ref name="bismarck"/><ref name="la"/><ref name="dallas"/>
==Politics== Randy was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1994 when he upset a long-time incumbent Democratic committee chairman, helping Republicans achieve majority status in the North Dakota Senate. He initially focused mostly on energy, taxation, and natural resources issues.
Former Governor Ed Schafer appointed Randy to serve as one of the two legislative appointees on the Lignite Research Council. He has continued to serve in this position under then-Governor John Hoeven and former Governor Jack Dalrymple and is currently Vice-Chairman of the Lignite Research Council.
In 1999 the members of West River Telecommunications (WRT) elected Randy to serve on its board of directors. During his 13 years on the board, WRT nearly doubled in size, growing into a $100 million company with more than 70 employees. WRT provides telephone and broadband service to part or all of 17 counties in North and South Dakota. West River is also a leader in the development of cellular service in North Dakota as a major partner with Verizon Wireless.
Following the statewide general election in 2000, Senate Republicans chose Randy to serve as their Assistant Majority Leader. He had been re-elected to this post every two years thereafter, making him one of North Dakota’s longest serving legislative leaders in recent memory. He also served on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
==Personal life== He is married to Bethanie Christmann.<ref name="senate" /><ref name="bismarck" /> They live in Bismarck, but continue to spend weekends on the ranch near Hazen.<ref name="senate" /><ref name="la" />
Christmann is a member of the National Rifle Association of America, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the North Dakota Stockmen's Association.<ref name="senate" /> In 2007, he received the Public Service Award from the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association.<ref name="ndp">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ndpetroleum.org/Information/Recipients.asp |title=Public Service Awards Recipients |publisher=North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association |access-date=2012-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701203016/http://ndpetroleum.org/Information/Recipients.asp |archive-date=2012-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2016, the Lignite Energy Council presented him with the Distinguished Service Award for a Regulatory Program.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.psc.nd.gov/commission/meet/christmann.php Official biography]
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Bonny Fetch}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission|years=2013–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{North Dakota statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christmann, Randel}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party North Dakota state senators Category:Northern State University alumni Category:People from Mercer County, North Dakota Category:20th-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly Category:21st-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly