BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Republican Doug Burgum was elected North Dakota's governor by running as an outsider and vowing to "reinvent state government."
But the wealthy former computer software executive took charge against the backdrop of an unprecedented state revenue shortfall. He also had to deal with the contentious protest over the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Burgum tells The Associated Press it was "full-blown crisis management" when he took over in December.
The Legislature adjourned last week. Burgum says almost all his time during the first half of the session was dedicated to reacting to pipeline protests that lasted until late February.
Burgum still gives himself a B-plus grade for his first Legislative session. He says the state was able to deal with a $1.7 billion revenue shortage.