Rune Bakervik
{{Short description|Norwegian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Chief Commissioner of Bergen
| term_start = 3 November 2022
| term_end = 30 October 2023
| 1blankname = Mayor
| 1namedata = Linn Engø
Marit Warncke
| predecessor = Roger Valhammer
| successor = Christine B. Meyer
| office2 = Mayor of Bergen
| term_start2 = 22 September 2021
| term_end2 = 27 October 2022
| deputy2 = Linn Engø
| 2blankname2 = Chief Commissioner
| 2namedata2 = Roger Valhammer
| predecessor2 = Marte Mjøs Persen
| successor2 = Linn Engø
| office3 = Deputy Mayor of Bergen
| term_start3 = 30 October 2019
| term_end3 = 22 September 2021
| 3blankname3 = Mayor
| 3namedata3 = Marte Mjøs Persen
| predecessor3 = Marita Moltu
| successor3 = Linn Engø
| office4 = Bergen City Commissioner for Urban Development
| term_start4 = 24 June 2019
| term_end4 = 29 October 2019
| 4blankname4 = Chief Commissioner
| 4namedata4 = Roger Valhammer
| predecessor4 = Anna Elisa Tryti
| successor4 = Ingrid Neergaard Fjeldstad {{Small|(2022)}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|11|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Laksevåg, Hordaland, Norway
| party = Labour
| spouse =
| children = 1
}}
Rune Bakervik (born 19 November 1970) is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He served as Chief Commissioner of Bergen from 2022 to 2023, and previously served as mayor, deputy mayor and city commissioner for urban development.
Background
Bakervik was born in Laksevåg, but grew up in Fyllingsdalen. He studied social science and later started with a major in sociology, but didn't finish it. He later took further education in labour law and management. He has been the regional leader for the Union of Employees in Commerce and Offices since 2011.{{cite web | url = https://frifagbevegelse.no/nyheter/bergensordforeren--er-du-arbeiderklasse-er-du-arbeiderklasse-du-trenger-ikke-a-snakke-om-det-6.469.832611.52a74dcf3b | title = Bergens-ordføreren: – Er du arbeiderklasse, er du arbeiderklasse. Du trenger ikke å snakke om det | publisher = FriFagbevegelse | date= 16 November 2021 | access-date = 16 December 2022| language = no}}
In his personal time, Bakervik has supported the SK Brann football team. He has also been a leader of the fan club and tournament leader. He is married and has one child.
{{cite web
|url= https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/ordforeren/varaordforer-rune-bakervik
|title= Varaordfører Rune Bakervik
|access-date= 26 April 2020
|date=
|publisher= Bergen kommune
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200309083233/https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/ordforeren/varaordforer-rune-bakervik
|archive-date= 9 March 2020
|url-status=dead
}}
Political career
=City council=
=Parliament=
Bakervik was elected as deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament, the Storting, following the 2009 parliamentary election. He served the complete term until 2013.{{cite web | url = https://www.stortinget.no/no/Representanter-og-komiteer/Representantene/Representant/?perid=RUB | title = Biografi: Bakervik, Rune | date = 9 November 2021 | publisher = stortinget.no | access-date = 26 June 2022 | language = no}} From 2006 to 2009, he was also a political advisor to Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.
=City commissioner=
On 24 June 2019, Bakervik was appointed city commissioner for urban development following the resignation of Anna Elisa Tryti.{{cite web | url = https://dagensperspektiv.no/ledelse/2019/rune-bakervik-erstatter-anna-elisa-tryti-som-byutviklingsbyrad-i-bergen | title = Rune Bakervik erstatter Anna Elisa Tryti som byutviklingsbyråd i Bergen | publisher = Dagens Perspektiv | date = 24 June 2019 | access-date = 26 April 2020 | language = no}}
When Roger Valhammer formed his new cabinet following the 2019 local elections, Bakervik was dismissed from his position in order to become deputy mayor.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/her-er-bergens-nye-byrad-1.14760296 | title = Her er Bergens nye byråd | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 29 October 2019 | access-date = 24 June 2023 | language = no}}
=Deputy mayor=
Bakervik was elected deputy mayor of Bergen following the 2019 local elections and succeeded Marita Moltu in the position.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/marte-mjos-persen-held-fram-som-ordforar-i-bergen-1.14759636 | title = Marte Mjøs Persen held fram som ordførar i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 28 October 2019 | access-date = 27 October 2023 | language = no}}
=Mayor of Bergen=
With then-mayor Marte Mjøs Persen nominated as a candidate for parliament ahead of the 2021 parliamentary election, the Bergen Labour Party chose Bakervik as their new mayoral candidate along with Linn Engø as the deputy mayor candidate.{{cite web | url = https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/M3l27r/rune-bakervik-blir-ny-ordfoerer-i-bergen | title = Rune Bakervik blir ny ordfører i Bergen | publisher = Bergens Tidende | date = 23 April 2021 | access-date = 15 March 2022 | language = no | archive-date = 27 January 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127200531/https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/M3l27r/rune-bakervik-blir-ny-ordfoerer-i-bergen | url-status = live }} Both Bakervik and Engø officially assumed office on 22 September after Persen resigned as mayor after being elected to parliament.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/ny-ordforer-i-bergen--1.15662522 | title = Ny ordfører i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 22 September 2021 | access-date = 28 October 2023 | language = no | archive-date = 24 November 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221124103723/https://www.nrk.no/vestland/ny-ordforer-i-bergen--1.15662522 | url-status = live }} In October 2022, following Roger Valhammer's announced resignation, Bakervik asked Engø to step in to consider new chief commissioner candidates in his place. Bakervik handed her the responsibility because he was among the preferred candidates up for consideration.{{cite web | url = https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2022/10/10/bergensordforer-rune-bakervik-trer-til-side-i-byradsprosessen/ | title = Bergensordfører Rune Bakervik trer til side i byrådsprosessen | publisher = Dagsavisen | date = 10 October 2022 | access-date = 28 October 2023 | archive-date = 17 October 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221017055600/https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2022/10/10/bergensordforer-rune-bakervik-trer-til-side-i-byradsprosessen/ | url-status = live }}
=Chief commissioner of Bergen=
Engø would later give Bakervik the responsibility of forming a new city government. She then ascended to the mayoralty when he resigned on 27 October in preparation to take over as chief commissioner. Bakervik officially took over on 3 November, where Labour had formed a government with the Liberal Party.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/arbeidarpartiet-og-venstre-dannar-byrad-i-bergen-1.16164626 | title = Visesongar blir kulturbyråd i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 3 November 2022 | access-date = 28 October 2023 | language = nn | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004030110/https://www.nrk.no/vestland/arbeidarpartiet-og-venstre-dannar-byrad-i-bergen-1.16164626 | url-status = live }}
The Liberal Party withdrew from the government on 14 September 2023 to negotiate with the Conservatives and the Christian Democrats about forming a Conservative led government following the 2023 local elections. He appointed himself as city commissioner for finance and business and ownership, while Ruth Grung additionally took on the responsibility of environment and urban development.{{cite web | url = https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2023/09/15/nytt-ap-byrad-uten-nye-byrader-konstitueres-i-bergen/ | title = Nytt Ap-byråd uten nye byråder konstitueres i Bergen | publisher = Dagsavisen | date = 15 September 2023 | access-date = 29 October 2023 | language = no}}
Initially the election result didn't give either of the two blocks a majority, but the Conservative one became the largest. Despite this, Bakervik started negotiations with parties that supported him as chief commissioner.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/rune-bakervik-og-arbeidarpartiet-tar-opp-kampen-om-a-bli-sittande-i-byradet-sjolv-om-hogre-vant-valet-1.16561553 | title = Rune Bakervik (Ap) startar eigne byrådssamtalar i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 18 September 2023 | access-date = 29 October 2023 | language = nn}} However, this later fell through when the Conservatives managed to form a majority with the Centre Party, Progress Party, Pensioners' Party, Industry and Business Party and the Bergen List.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/hoyre-enige-med-fem-parti-om-byradssamarbeid-i-bergen-1.16574688 | title = Høyre: – Enighet om byrådssamarbeid i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 6 October 2023 | access-date = 6 October 2023 | language = no}}
Bakervik announced his government's resignation on 18 October, while also attacking the Conservatives for being unwilling to find common ground in a potential resolution for the Bergen Light Rail. The Conservatives meanwhile expressed that Labour's offer came to late and "wasn't generous enough". His government remained as a caretaker government until Christine B. Meyer and her government took over on 30 October.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/rune-bakervik-_ap_-gar-av-som-byradsleder-i-bergen-1.16600512 | title = Ap-byrådslederen i Bergen: – Tilbød Meyer (H) "alt" for å redde bybanen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 18 October 2023 | access-date = 29 October 2023 | language = no}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/val-2023_-dette-er-christine-meyer-sitt-nye-byrad-i-bergen-1.16616247 | title = Overrasking i det nye byrådet i Bergen: Ukjent joker får bybane-ansvaret | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 30 October 2023 | access-date = 30 October 2023 | language = nn}}