N.D. Workers’ Comp Director Fired

The board overseeing North Dakota’s workers’ compensation agency has voted to fire Sandy Blunt as the agency’s chief executive.

The Workforce Safety and Insurance Agency board’s vote was 8-2 to dismiss Blunt.

Agency executive John Halvorson was named as Blunt’s interim successor.

Blunt was hired in April 2004. His tenure has been marked by problems, including felony criminal charges that were filed against him eight months ago for alleged illegal use of confidential information and misspending agency funds. The charges later were dropped.

The board is meeting in Bismarck. Blunt did not attend.