Adam Hamm

Infobox Politician
name = Adam Hamm
office = North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
term_start = October 9, 2007
term_end =
predecessor = Jim Poolman
successor =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1971|7|24|mf=y
party = Republican

Adam Hamm, born July 24, 1971, is the current North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, taking office following Jim Poolman's departure in August. [ [http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8S5R82G1 Markets | Market News | Canadian Business Online ] ] He was appointed to the position and he began his work on October 22, 2007. [http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=11549 KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader ] ] Hamm is a former prosecutor in the Cass County State's Attorney's office and is a native of Jamestown. He will face election in 2008, and says that if he wins, he will serve a full term.

Biography

Early years

Adam Hamm was born on July 24, 1971. A native of Jamestown, Hamm was an only child. His father was a salesman and his mother worked as an information technology administrator. When he was five, his parents divorced, and at 14 he moved to Los Angeles, California to live with his mother who had a job with a defense contracting firm. [ [http://bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/topnews/141338.txt Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - A fresh start for Hamm ] ] He said both his father's family, who owned Hamm's Market, and his mother's family, who worked as farmers and ranchers, had a profound influence on him.

Hamm graduated from high school in Torrance, California, and as he wanted to pursue a career as a police officer or a federal agent, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Once he saw the criminal justice system in action, however, he became more interested in the legal side of the system. Since he was unsure where he wanted to go to law school, Hamm moved back to Los Angeles and got a job at a Foot Locker, but he wasn't content with the lifestyle. Eventually, he graduated with a law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks, and decided to stay back home. From 1998 to 2001, he served as the assistant Cass County State’s Attorney, where he was a prosecutor assigned to the personal crimes team. He also did extensive appellate work before the North Dakota Supreme Court during that time. [ [http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=11274 N. Dakota insurance commissioner appointed | Business Insurance News, Analysis & Articles ] ] Between 2002 and 2007, Hamm was an associate with the Fargo-based law firm Anderson & Bottrell. He is licensed to practice law in North Dakota and Minnesota, and litigated both commercial and civil cases involving administrative agencies, agriculture, transportation, and collections. In October 2007, Hamm was one of several individuals interviewed to replace Jim Poolman as North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, and he was appointed to the position by Governor John Hoeven on October 9. When asked about his qualifications for the job, Hamm said "I believe that my legal education, my legal background, almost a decade of representing people, whether it's in public practice or private practice, is going to help me out," says Hamm. [http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=11555] Governor Hoeven commented that "work, combined with his legal experience, shows Hamm has the commitment and knowledge necessary to serve the people of North Dakota."

Tenure as Insurance Commissioner

Since appointment to the job, Hamm said that his main area of focus is consumer protection. "This is obviously job one as insurance commissioner, where if necessary if companies violate the law, I will hold them accountable. My number one priority is protecting consumers. Second, I plan to continue the leadership that has existed in the Insurance Department for the last seven years," Hamm said

On October 10th, 2008 Hamm said he has rejected Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota's request for a 14.9 percent rate increase for group policies. .

Personal life

Hamm is married to Michelle, and they have two children: Wyatt, 10, and Halle, 7.

References