He was born in
Vestfossen, took his secondary education in
Hokksund in 1972 and the
cand.agric. degree at the
Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1977. From 1977 to 1979 he worked as a secretary in the
Norwegian Agrarian Association. After three years in
Ringebu Municipality, he settled as a farmer in 1982. From 1986 to 1992 he chaired the
Norwegian Farmers' and Smallholders' Union. He was elected to the
Norwegian Parliament from
Buskerud in 1993. Not re-elected in 1997, he was secretary general in his party for two years. From 1999 to 2000, while the
first cabinet Bondevik held office, he was a
State Secretary in the
Ministry of Local Government. From 2000 to 2003 he chaired the county chapter of his party, and from 2003 to 2007 he served in the
municipal council of
Øvre Eiker Municipality.
In 2005 he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament for a second term. During both terms he has been a member of the Standing Committee of Finance. He has been re-elected at every election since. ==References==