Jim Risch

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James E. "Jim" Risch (born May 3, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the former Governor and current Lieutenant Governor of Idaho. Risch is a rancher, attorney and politician from Ada County. He was the first Roman Catholic to serve as Governor of Idaho in over 90 years.

On August 31, 2007, the Associated Press reported that Risch may be appointed United States Senator for Idaho by current Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter to succeed Senator Larry Craig, who, at the time, indicated he would be resigning from the Senate effective September 30, 2007, in the wake of his arrest and subsequent guilty plea for disorderly conduct in a men's restroom at the Minneapolis, Minnesota airport.[1] Senator Craig has since withdrawn his intent to resign and currently remains in office, but will not seek re-election. The Idaho Statesman reported on September 1, however, that Otter's spokesman denied Risch had been selected and that the governor "has made no decision and he is not leaning toward anybody."[2] On October 9, Risch announced that he is running for the now open senate seat.[3]

Contents

Background

Risch attended the University of Idaho where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He obtained his B.S. in Forestry in 1965 and continued his education at the university's College of Law, serving on Law Review,receiving his J.D. in 1968.

Risch entered politics in 1970, at age 27, winning election as Ada County Prosecuting Attorney. While serving in this capacity, he taught undergraduate classes in criminal justice at Boise State University and served as the President of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Political career

Risch was first elected to the Idaho State Senate from Ada County in 1974. He entered the state senate leadership in 1976, serving as majority leader and later as president pro tempore. In a dramatic upset, Risch was defeated for re-election in 1988 by Democratic political newcomer and Boise attorney Mike Burkett. As of mid-2006, it remains Idaho's most expensive legislative contest.

In the second political defeat of his career, Risch lost the 1994 primary election for a state senate seat to Roger Madsen. Risch returned to the state senate in 1995, as an appointee of Governor Phil Batt, who had named Madsen as the state commerce department's director.

In January 2001, Risch had his eye on the lieutenant governor's seat vacated by "Butch" Otter, who resigned to take his elected seat in Congress. However, ppGovernor]] Dirk Kempthorne appointed state senator Jack Riggs of Coeur d'Alene to the post instead. The following year Risch defeated Riggs in the Republican primary and won the general election, spending $360,000 of his own money to win the $27,000 a year, part-time post.

On May 26, 2006, Risch became Governor of Idaho when Kempthorne resigned to become the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Risch served out the remaining seven months of Kempthorne's term, which ended in January 2007.

In August 2006, Risch called a special session of the Idaho State Legislature to consider his proposed property tax reform bill, entitled the Property Tax Relief Act of 2006.

2006 election

Risch was expected to enter the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary to succeed Kempthorne, who was completing his second term at this time of his federal appointment. However, Congressman Otter had announced his candidacy for the position in December 2004, and had gained a significant headstart in campaigning and fundraising. In November 2005, Risch announced his intention to seek election again as lieutenant governor.

Although he had another opportunity to enter the gubernatorial race after Kempthorne's appointment in March 2006, Risch again chose not to challenge Otter for the position. Risch was unopposed for the 2006 Republican nomination for lieutenant governor and defeated former Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco in the general election. Risch stepped down as governor in January 2007 and returned to the role of lieutenant governor.

Contact Information

Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Room 225, State Capitol
Boise, Idaho 83720-0057
Phone: 208-334-2200
Fax: 208-334-3259

References

  1. ↑ GOP officials: Craig to resign Saturday by John Miller & Matthew Daly, Yahoo! News, Aug. 31, 2007
  2. ↑ Risch rumors about replacing Sen. Craig are 'dead wrong' by Gregory Hahn, Idaho Statesman, Sep. 1, 2007
  3. ↑ Jim Risch announces Senate bid (.txt) by Tom Greene, Coeur d'Alene Press, Oct. 9, 2007

External links

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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