Gov. John Hoeven will need a new job soon. He should apply for one of the four open university president positions, rather than run for a third term as governor. Actually, he should have experienced running a university under 15 years of Republican leadership.

During this period, public funding for colleges and universities has declined by half, and student tuition has increased by double digit percentages. North Dakota's college faculty pay ranks dead last in the nation.

Hoeven makes a nice appearance - and appear he does - for every federally funded accomplishment. Just last week he was present when SBA announced a loan-application change. Even his Devils Lake "state supported" project was built with funds from the national tobacco-harms lawsuit - money intended to offset the tremendous health-care costs resulting from smoking.

Hoeven claims his initiatives have improved the state's economy. Truth is, the 2007 Legislature had a budget surplus to work with because $83-per-barrel oil had revived the North Dakota oil patch, and prices for farm commodities had finally improved nationwide.

Even with a surplus, when asked if he would help fund Northwood's recovery from the tornado damage, the governor said he wanted to wait to see what the Federal Emergency Management Agency would do.

Nine percent of the state's workers hold two or more jobs. Ten percent of the population lives in poverty. Forty-six percent of the homeless are families. Fourteen thousand North Dakota children have no health insurance. Our prisons bulge with men and women who have committed drug crimes, while violent crime is increasing. Inadequate state funding for public education has driven up the property taxes.

The governor would probably say "these are legislative issues," but we must remember that he has been the leader of a Republican-dominated Legislature for all these years.

North Dakota really needs a governor who cares deeply for the people of this state, a governor who has a clear vision of how the state can best serve its people, a governor who is a true leader of his party and skilled enough to bring lawmakers of both parties to consensus.