03/20/06 Risch has political future planned

Lt Governor Jim Risch could become the Governor of Idaho in a few weeks if Dirk Kempthorne is confirmed as Secretary of the Interior. Risch has always wanted to be governor but a few weeks ago he decided to run again for lieutenant governor and that won't change. RISCH "If I entered a political campaign for governor at this time it would not serve the people of the state of Idaho very well. Do I want to engage in what would be a difficult and contentious campaign or do I want to discharge the duties of the governor of the state of Idaho. I've chosen the latter." That campaign would be against former lieutenant governor and now Congressman Butch Otter, who is considered to be the odds on favorite to win election in November. But what can Risch do in only eight or nine months as governor? RISCH "I don't want to stand here and say look this is what I'm going do, one, two, three and four. I think that in eight months first of all the state has got to be run. This is the largest operation in the state of Idaho, it needs a chief executive officer and it needs a person in that position to run it." This Boise attorney and part time cattle rancher won't comment on his successor as lieutenant governor saying all of this talk is premature until Kempthorne is confirmed and he, Risch, is inaugurated as governor. RISCH "Probably a historical note. I don't know any governor in the United States has ever asked the people to elect him lieutenant governor." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott