Dirk Kempthorne

Dirk Kempthorne

Dirk Arthur Kempthorne (born October 29, 1951 in San Diego, California), was the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who served under George W. Bush from 2006–2009. A Republican, Kempthorne previously served as Governor and as a U.S. Senator from Idaho. He is reportedly exploring a bid for the Republican Presidential Nomination in 2012.

Kempthorne is notable for his conservative views, particularly on economic issues.

Kempthorne was raised in San Bernardino, California. Kempthorne attended and graduated from San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino, California. He initially attended Valley Community College, and then transferred to the University of Idaho. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1975 with a degree in political science, serving a term as student body president. Upon graduation Kempthorne served as an assistant to the director of the Idaho Department of Lands and then as executive vice president of the Idaho Home Builders Association.

In 1982, Kempthorne managed the gubernatorial campaign for Lt. Gov. Phil Batt, who lost to the incumbent Democrat, Governor John V. Evans. In 1983 Kempthorne became state public affairs manager for FMC Corporation.

Kempthorne and his wife, Patricia Kempthorne who are both University of Idaho graduates, have two adult children, Heather and Jeff.

Kempthorne is of Cornish ancestry.

Kempthorne's first major political victory was in 1985 when he was elected mayor of Boise. As mayor Kempthorne became very popular and was unopposed for reelection in 1989.

In 1992, U.S. Senator Steve Symms decided not to seek a third term and Kempthorne pursued the Republican nomination for the seat. In the general election, Kempthorne defeated Democratic Congressman Richard H. Stallings. In the Senate, Kempthorne sponsored and helped pass a bill meant to prohibit Congress from imposing unfunded federal mandates on states.

During his six years in the Senate, Kempthorne scored a "0" on the League of Conservation Voters' legislative scorecards every year except 1993, when he scored 6 percent on the basis of one vote against funding a rocket booster for the space program that environmentalists judged harmful to the environment. His overall LCV score for that period was less than 1%.

Kempthorne was expected to run for reelection in 1998, but instead decided to run for the open seat for governor. The incumbent, Phil Batt, elected in 1994, shocked the state by announcing his retirement after only one term in office. Kempthorne's Senate seat would be won by Republican Mike Crapo.

Kempthorne won the gubernatorial election in a landslide, receiving 68 percent of the vote while his Democratic opponent, Robert C. Huntley, received only 29 percent. He was reelected in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote, compared to his Democratic opponent, Jerry Brady, who polled 42 percent. Kempthorne's campaign spent nearly $200,000 more than it had received in contributions prior to the election; he spent the next two years raising funds to pay off the campaign debt.

On March 16, 2006, Kempthorne was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace Gale Norton as the 49th Secretary of the Interior. On May 10, 2006, Kempthorne's nomination was approved by voice vote by the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He was confirmed by the full Senate on May 26 and resigned as governor to accept the position the same day. Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch succeeded Kempthorne as governor, filling out remaining months of the term. Kempthorne is the second Idahoan to hold the Cabinet post. Former Governor Cecil Andrus was the Secretary of the Interior under President Jimmy Carter, serving from 1977 to 1981.

As Secretary of the Interior, Kempthorne was criticized for not placing any plants or animals on the federal endangered species list since his confirmation on May 26, 2006. As of September 2007, Kempthorne holds the record for protecting fewer species over his tenure than any Interior Secretary in United States history, a record previously held by James G. Watt for over 20 years.

In 2009, CNN correspondent Campbell Brown criticized Kempthorne for using "$235,000 of your money to renovate his office bathroom at the Department of Interior." According to Brown, the costs included a shower, a refrigerator, and a freezer hidden behind lavish wood paneling, as well as "DK" monogrammed towels.

Kempthorne has been mentioned as a possible future candidate for U.S. President in 2012.

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Jack Riggs

Jack Riggs, M.D. is a Republican politician from Idaho. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from 2001 to 2003.

Riggs is a physician from Coeur d'Alene. He was appointed lieutenant governor by Governor Dirk Kempthorne in January 2001 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of longtime Lieutenant Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter, who won a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 2000 election. Previously Riggs served in the Idaho Legislature as a member of the Idaho State Senate.

Riggs ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 but was defeated by state senator Jim Risch in the Republican primary. He currently serves as member of the Idaho State Board of Health and Welfare.

In 2005, Riggs helped purchase "The Pita Pit" chain of fast food restaurants, and began expanding the franchise through 2007.

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Jerry Brady

Jerry Michael Brady (born March 20, 1936 in Idaho Falls, Idaho) is an Idaho politician and owns a newspaper that is distributed in southeast Idaho. Brady ran twice for Governor of Idaho and was defeated both times, losing in 2002 to Dirk Kempthorne and losing in 2006 to Butch Otter.

Brady is a 1954 graduate of Idaho Falls High School and also graduated from the University of Notre Dame and Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

Beginning in 1963 Brady served as a legislative assistant to United States Senator Frank Church. From 1969 to 1972 Brady was the assistant director and later director of public affairs for the Peace Corps. Brady practiced law in Washington, D.C. from 1979 to 1984.

In 1984 Brady returned to Idaho to manage his family's media companies, first as general manager of KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, then as publisher of the Post Register, Idaho Falls' daily newspaper which he owns. Brady currently serves as the newspaper's president.

Late in 2006 Brady announced he would not contest a third consecutive gubernatorial run in 2010.

Brady is the great-grandson of James H. Brady, who served as Governor of Idaho and as a United States Senator from Idaho in the early 20th Century.

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Jim Risch

James Elroy Risch (born May 3, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the junior United States Senator from Idaho, the former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, and the former Governor. Risch was elected to the Senate in 2008, defeating former Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco and several independents.

He became Governor on May 26, 2006 because he was serving as Lieutenant Governor when his predecessor Dirk Kempthorne resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Risch is a rancher, attorney and politician from Ada County. He was the first Catholic to serve as Governor of Idaho in over 90 years.

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 1990.

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.

Risch was first elected to the Idaho 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 reelection 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, Governor 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 Legislature to consider his proposed property tax reform bill, entitled the Property Tax Relief Act of 2006.

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.

Risch was unopposed for the 2006 Republican nomination for lieutenant governor and defeated former Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco in the general election. Risch's term as governor ended in January 2007 and he returned to the role of lieutenant governor.

On August 41, 2007, the Associated Press reported that Risch may be appointed United States Senator by current Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter to succeed the embattled Larry Craig. 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." On October 9, Risch announced that he would run for the now open senate seat. In May 2008, Risch was selected as the Republican nominee for Craig's open seat in the U.S. Senate. He defeated Larry LaRocco, a former Democratic congressman, with 58% of the vote. Risch defeated LaRocco in two previous elections: for a state senate seat in 1986 and for lieutenant governor in 2006.

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Phil Batt

Philip Eugene Batt (born March 4, 1927 in Wilder, Idaho) was the Governor of Idaho from 1995-99.

Batt was an onion and hops farmer from Wilder. Before becoming governor, he had been a Republican politician in Idaho for 30 years, serving in the state legislature (house 1965-67, senate 1967-79) and as the lieutenant governor from 1979-83. He ran for governor in 1982 and was defeated in a close race by the Democratic incumbent, John V. Evans. Future U.S. Senator and Governor Dirk Kempthorne served as his campaign manager.

After rebuilding the Idaho Republican Party into near-total dominance as party chairman in the early 1990s, Batt re-entered electoral politics. In 1994, Batt won the Republican gubernatorial primary with 48% of the vote, and defeated the Democratic candidate, attorney general Larry EchoHawk in the general election 52% to 44%. Despite polls putting his popularity at around 80%, he chose to serve only one term.

Among Batt's more notable accomplishments as governor were pushing through worker's compensation for agricultural workers and negotiating a pact limiting nuclear waste storage in Idaho. During his term, Idaho's cabinet had a higher percentage of women than any other state.

He has self-published two books since leaving office, a memoir titled The Compleat Phil Batt: A Kaleidoscope, in 1999, and a compilation of humorous stories, Life as a Geezer, in 2002.

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