He was a county council member in Nordland from 1991 to 1999, and was county mayor of Nordland from 1995 to 1999. From 1999 to 2003 he was a member of the county cabinet.
He held various positions in Nordland's government: first as a member of the county council from 1991 to 1999, then as the county mayor from 1995 to 1999, and finally as part of the county cabinet from 1999 to 2003.