Heidi Heitkamp

Heidi Heitkamp (born October 30 1955) is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of North Dakota. She was attorney general of the state from 1993 to 2001. She ran on the Democratic-NPL ticket for governor in 2000, losing to John Hoeven.

While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, Heitkamp's biggest achievement was working on the lawsuit filed against big tobacco. [http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?&id=4568 Tobacco Settlement] ] She spearheaded the campaign to hold big tobacco companies responsible for their actions and succeeded in obtaining large amounts of money for each state to use in tobacco cessation programs. The lawsuit also placed restrictions on allowable advertising for tobacco companies.

During her campaign for governor it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which is now in remission. She is currently a director of the Dakota Gasification Company. [http://www.capitalelec.com/News/articles/Showing_support_for_breast_cancer.html Breast Cancer Survivor] ]

Her brother, Joel Heitkamp, is a state senator in the North Dakota legislature, and also is a radio talk-show host. Heidi Heitkamp occasionally fills in for her brother as host of the program, News and Views, which is broadcast on Clear Channel stations in North Dakota.

Career

*Environmental Protection Agency 1980-1981
*Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner 1981-1986
*North Dakota Tax Commissioner 1986-1992
*North Dakota Attorney General 1993-2000
*Dakota Gas director 2003-present

References