The chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission says he's running for re-election.

Republican Randy Christmann was elected to the position in 2012 and is seeking a second six-year term.

Christmann, a former state senator, says he favors a balance between energy development and protecting natural resources.

Christmann and his wife, Bethanie, own a cattle ranch west of Hazen.

The three-member commission regulates coal mining, land reclamation, pipelines, electric and gas utilities, grain elevators, telecommunications and auctioneers.

Much of the commission's work in recent years has involved determining locations for oil and natural gas pipelines, natural gas processing factories, and wind energy projects.