In the 2001 Norwegian parliamentary election, she headed the Liberal Party ballot in Østfold for the first time. She was not elected, but the Liberal Party managed to form Bondevik's Second Cabinet. Sletner was a State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice during the entire lifespan of the cabinet, from 2001 to 2005.[2] Afterwards, Sletner became assisting secretary-general in the Liberal Party. She again spearheaded the Liberal Party ballot in Østfold in 2005 and 2009.[3]