Troms County Municipality

Troms County Municipality (Norwegian: Troms fylkeskommune, Kven: Tromssan fylkinkomuuni, Northern Sami: Romssa fylkkasuohkan) is the regional governing administration of Troms county in northern Norway. It was temporarily dissolved from 2020 to 2023 when Finnmark county was merged into Troms og Finnmark county, but that was undone effective 1 January 2024. It has its administration in the city of Tromsø. It consists of a 37-member county council led by a county mayor.

Troms County Municipality Troms fylkeskommune Romssa fylkkasuohkan Tromssan fylkinkomuuni
County
Troms County Municipality administration building (2010)
Coat of arms
Location in Norway
Coordinates: 69.6557°N 18.9585°E / 69.6557; 18.9585
Country	Norway
Established	1 Jan 1838
Disestablished	2020-2024
Re-established	1 Jan 2024
Administrative center	Tromsø
Government
• County mayor	Kristina Torbergsen
ISO 3166 code	NO-54
Website	Official website

County government

The county municipality's most important tasks include secondary education, recreation (sports and outdoor life), and cultural heritage. The county municipality is also responsible for all county roads (including ferry operations) and public transport (including school busses). The county municipality has further responsibility for regional land-use planning, business development, power production, and environmental management. The county also has responsibility for providing dental health services (in 2002, responsibility for hospitals and public medicine was transferred from the counties to the new regional health authorities).^[1]

County mayors

Since 1963, the county mayor (Norwegian: fylkesordfører) of Troms has been the political leader of the county and the chairperson of the county council. Prior to 1963, the County governor led the council which was made up of all of the mayors of the rural municipalities within the county.^[2] Here is a list of people who have held this position:

• 1963-1967: Bjarne Berg-Sæther (Ap)
• 1968-1971: Kåre Nordgård (Ap)
• 1972-1979: Alfred Sagelvmo (Ap)
• 1980-1983: Arne Nic. Sandnes (H)
• 1983-1987: William Engseth (Ap)
• 1987-1991: Kirsten Myklevoll (Ap)
• 1991-1991: Jan Henry T. Olsen (Ap)
• 1991-1992: Kirsten Myklevoll (Ap)
• 1993-1994: Roger Solheim (Ap)
• 1995-2007: Ronald Rindestu (Sp)
• 2007-2011: Terje Olsen (H)
• 2011-2019: Knut Werner Hansen (Ap)
• (2020-2023: none - Troms was part of the Troms og Finnmark County Municipality)
• 2024–present: Kristina Torbergsen (Ap)^[3]

County council

The county council (Norwegian: Fylkestinget) is made up of 37 representatives that are elected by direct election by all legal residents of the county every fourth year. The council is the legislative body for the county. The county council typically meets about six times a year. Council members are divided into standing committees and an executive committee (fylkesutvalg), which meet considerably more often. Both the council and executive committee (with at least 5 members) are led by the county mayor (Norwegian: fylkesordfører). The executive committee carries out the executive funitons of the county under the direction of the whole council.^[1][4] The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Troms fylkesting 2023–2027 ^[5]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	6
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Nordkalottfolket Party (Nordkalottfolket)	1
	Red Party (Rødt)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		37
Note: From 2020-2024, Troms county was part of Troms og Finnmark county.

Troms fylkesting 2015–2019 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Red Party (Rødt)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		37
Note: From 2020-2024, Troms county was part of Troms og Finnmark county.

Troms fylkesting 2011–2015 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		37

Troms fylkesting 2007–2011 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		37

Troms fylkesting 2003–2007 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		37

Troms fylkesting 1999–2003 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	15
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1995–1999 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	16
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Red Party (Rødt)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Solidarity (Solidaritet)	1
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1991–1995 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	16
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	10
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1987–1991 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	19
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	12
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1983–1987 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	19
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	12
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1979–1983 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	17
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	13
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		45

Troms fylkesting 1975–1979 ^[6]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	18
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	6
	New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		45
Note: Prior to this election, the county councils were not directly elected. Instead, members were chosen by each municipal council within the county - oftentimes it was the municipal mayors who were selected to be on the county council.

References

1. Berg, Ole; Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (18 February 2024). "fylkeskommune". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
2. Granheim Trøyflat, Marianne, ed. (24 January 2022). "Fylkesørdforar". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
3. "Fylkesordfører". Troms fylke (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 July 2024.
4. Hansen, Tore, ed. (21 July 2020). "fylkesutvalg". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
5. "Fylkestingvalg 2023 - Troms Romsa". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
6. Tjørnhaugen, Andreas, ed. (20 September 2019). "valgresultater fylkesting 1975-2015 - Troms". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 21 June 2020.