Robert Randall Peterson (born September 26, 1951, in Fargo, North Dakota) is an American Republican Party politician in North Dakota who served as North Dakota State Auditor from 1997 to 2016. He was also a Presidential Elector for the state in 1996. His father, Robert W. Peterson, was his predecessor as State Auditor; he served from 1973 to 1996.
Bob Peterson | |
|---|---|
| Auditor of North Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – December 15, 2016 | |
| Governor | Ed Schafer John Hoeven Jack Dalrymple |
| Preceded by | Robert Peterson |
| Succeeded by | Josh Gallion |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 26, 1951 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Williston State College University of North Dakota (BS) |
Biography
Bob Peterson is a graduate of Williston High School. He received his Associate in Arts degree from UND-Williston and his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota. He also took classes in accounting at the University of Mary. He served as the accounting and budget specialist for the North Dakota State Land Department from 1978 to 1996 when he was elected as North Dakota State Auditor. He lives in Bismarck and is married to Kathleen and has one daughter, Brynn.[1]
In 2015, Peterson announced that he would not seek a sixth term in the 2016 election.[2]
Electoral history
| North Dakota Auditor Election, 1996 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Peterson | 140,596 | 54.61 |
| Democratic | Shirley Dykshoorn | 116,864 | 45.39 |
| North Dakota Auditor Election, 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Peterson (inc.) | 165,026 | 60.55 |
| Democratic | Mary Ekstrom | 107,505 | 39.45 |
| North Dakota Auditor Election, 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Peterson (inc.) | 188,822 | 64.24 |
| Democratic | Brent Edison | 105,102 | 35.76 |
| North Dakota Auditor Election, 2008 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Peterson (inc.) | 179,897 | 60.74 |
| Democratic | Daryl Splichal | 116,269 | 39.26 |
| North Dakota Auditor Election, 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert "Bob" Peterson (inc.) | 188,859 | 62.50 |
| Democratic | Scott Kelsh | 112,803 | 37.33 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 515 | 0.17 |