Here he chaired the local chapter of the Young Conservatives from 1965 to 1967, and the county chapter from 1967 to 1969. During those two years he was also a central board member of the Norwegian Young Conservatives. He was an elected member of Sør-Varanger school board from 1966 to 1971, and the municipal council from 1967 to 1975, the last four years in the executive committee. He also chaired the local sports club in Hesseng, SK Vigør, for one year.