Bismarck –  Gov. Doug Burgum accepted more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from oil company executives last fall, despite comments he made as a candidate that accepting donations from the oil industry would be a conflict of interest.

WDAY reports, that Burgum did not accept contributions from oil company political action committees, but he did receive contributions of up to $25,000 from individual oil industry executives.

North Dakota’s governor regulates the oil industry as chairman of the state Industrial Commission.

Ahead of the June 2016 primary, Burgum received no apparent contributions from the oil industry while his opponent Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, also a member of the Industrial Commission, received at least $50,000 in donations tied to the oil industry, according to campaign disclosures filed with the Secretary of State.

At the time, Burgum told Forum News Service he believed a conflict of interest exists when candidates accept donations from industries they regulate.

Burgum declined an interview with Forum Commnications request but issued this statement:

“As a candidate, I made it clear I would not accept campaign contributions from entities I would directly regulate if elected governor. I honored that pledge. Individuals are free to express their preference and participate in the political process no matter where they work. As chairman of the Industrial Commission, I am committed to fair and unbiased oversight, regardless of campaign contributions.”

Democrat Marvin Nelson, who ran against Burgum last November, said his “heart kind of sank” when he first saw oil executive donations show up in Burgum’s campaign disclosures last fall.

Don Morton, who worked as chief of staff for Burgum at Microsoft in Fargo, said he doesn’t expect the contributions to influence Burgum’s decision-making.