The county municipality's most important tasks include
secondary education, recreation (sports and outdoor life), and
cultural heritage. The county municipality is also responsible for all
county roads (including
ferry operations) and
public transport (including school busses). The county municipality has further responsibility for regional
land-use planning,
business development,
power production, and
environmental management. The county also has responsibility for providing
dental health services (in 2002, responsibility for hospitals and public medicine was transferred from the counties to the new
regional health authorities).
County mayor Since 1963, the
County mayor () of Nordland is the political leader of the county and the chairperson of the
county council. Prior to 1963, the
County governor led the council which was made up of all of the mayors of the rural municipalities within the county. Here is a list of people who have held this position: • 1963-1963: Håkon O. Wika (
Ap) • 1964–1967: Hilmar Hansen (
Ap) • 1968–1971: Henry Forsaa (
Ap) • 1971-1971:
Petter Carl Reinsnes (
Ap) • 1971-1975: Ottar Vollan (
Ap) • 1976–1983:
Odd Grønmo (
KrF) • 1984–1995:
Sigbjørn Eriksen (
Ap) • 1995–1999:
Alf Ivar Samuelsen (
Sp) • 1999–2007:
Jon Tørset (
Sp) • 2007–2011: Mariette Korsrud (
Ap) • 2011–2019: Sonja Alice Steen (
Ap) • 2019–2023:
Kari Anne Bøkestad Andreassen (
Sp) • 2023-2027: Eivind Holst (
H)
County council The county council () is made up of 45 representatives that are elected by direct election by all legal residents every fourth year. The council essentially acts as a
Parliament or legislative body for the county. The county council typically meets about six times a year. The council follows a parliamentary system and has a
county cabinet () which functions as the head of the executive branch of the county municipality's duties. The cabinet is led by the Chairman of the County Cabinet (). The head if the administration is the County Executive (). The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political
party. {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table ==References==