UPDATE: Jim Poolman Resigns From UND Boards After Releasing Statement Distancing Himself from Ray Holmberg

(9PM UPDATE) — Jim Poolman has resigned as chair of the Board of Directors of the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation and the Forever UND campaign committee.

His resignation is below:

Dear distinguished UND Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors and UND Campaign Committee partners,

Serving on the Board of the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors has been a highlight of my personal and professional career. I love this University, the educational opportunities it provides and its people. UND has given me so much, and I have so enjoyed giving back.

There are so many great things going on at UND and the last thing there needs to be is a distraction. I do not want to be that distraction.  

It is in the best interest of the University and the Foundation that I resign my position on the Board of Directors and on the UND Campaign Committee, effective today.   

I have great confidence in my colleagues as they continue to do great work to enhance educational opportunities for students.

I wish the University of North Dakota, the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, the staff and my colleagues the very best always!   The greatest is yet to come.  Go Hawks!

My Very Best Regards and Good Luck,

Jim Poolman

FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – A former state lawmaker and North Dakota Insurance Commissioner is distancing himself from disgraced former state Sen. Ray Holmberg, and says he’s being targeted because he’s gay.

Jim Poolman is a Fargo businessman who sits on several boards, including the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors. He released a statement Monday night after a picture of himself with Holmberg began circulating on social media.

Poolman says he, like many others in North Dakota politics, worked with Holmberg, but did nothing illegal and knew nothing about Holmberg’s activities. Poolman was a state representative from 1992 to 2001 before he was insurance commissioner from 2001 to 2007.

The Department of Homeland Security interviewed Poolman about a year-and-a-half ago regarding what he may know about Holmberg’s activities and associates. Poolman says he has not heard anything from federal law enforcement since.

Holmberg was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after admitting he traveled overseas with the intent of having sex with children.

“Holmberg’s behavior is indefensible, awful, and beyond comprehension,” Poolman said. “I never received any communications, electronic or otherwise, that would indicate that he was conducting himself in such a manner. He did not talk about his horrible crimes to me.”

Poolman says it may be easy to build a case of guilt by association, but there are many people in Holmberg’s orbit over his decades in public service.

“Lumping them all together is irresponsible and trial by innuendo is a disservice to the truth and to anyone who has been affected, including real victims,” Poolman said.

Poolman, who publicly came out as gay in the statement, says being falsely grouped into this social media guesswork is just one more misguided example of this rumor mongering misinformation.

“So many others worked with Sen. Holmberg, it is hard for me to imagine that I have been targeted for any other reason other than that I am a gay man,” Poolman said.

On Sunday, Bruce Gjovig released a statement after a BCI report came out showing Holmberg communicated with him.