Ed Schafer
Edward Thomas Schafer is an American businessman and politician who was the 30th governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000. Schafer also served as the 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2008 to 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush.
Under Governor Schafer’s leadership, North Dakota achieved record low unemployment rates and a 10 percent increase in jobs. He lowered unemployment insurance tax rates and reduced workers’ compensation rates to make millions of dollars available to employers. Governor Schafer significantly increased funding for education and directed more than $70 million to help care for the state’s elderly. He supported significant investments in technology and water development projects to improve the delivery of services to people in remote areas and to provide solid infrastructure for continued economic growth.