High Expectations For New Governor

Now, it’s Dirk Kempthorne’s turn to lead Idaho.

After two months of speculation about his policies, the formation of a transition team that read like a who’s who of Idaho and a graceful exit by his former mentor, Gov. Phil Batt, Kempthorne was sworn into office Monday.

Kempthorne is filling big shoes, as Republican Batt did before him successfully when he replaced popular Democrat Cecil Andrus four years ago.

Few chief executives have entered office with more promise. Or popularity. Kempthorne was a successful Boise mayor before becoming one of the rising stars of the national Republican party during a solid term as Idaho’s junior U.S. senator. Of course, there’s an old adage about political popularity that generally proves true: A politician’s most popular day in office is his first one.

Republican Batt, with all his experience as a legislator and former lieutenant governor, discovered quickly how hard it was to govern. Shortly after taking office in 1995, Batt stumbled into one controversy after another before righting himself. This, despite being backed by a veto-proof Republican legislature.

Kempthorne will be successful simply if he follows Batt’s lead on policies involving human rights and nuclear waste. Batt carved a niche for himself by denouncing racism, promoting greater Hispanic job and education opportunities and opening communication with the state’s five Indian tribes. Also, Batt hammered out a deal with the federal government, the best one possible at the time, to remove nuclear waste from Idaho. Kempthorne must see to it that the federal government keeps its end of the bargain.

We expect this and much more from Kempthorne.

Above all, he needs to deal with deteriorating school buildings. Idaho, which provides no money for school projects while requiring a two-thirds supermajority to pass bonds, has a construction backlog conservatively estimated at $100 million. No child should attend an unsafe or inadequate school.

Also, the new administration must work to improve Idaho’s low childhood immunization rate, expand early-education programs, find funding for the strapped Idaho Fish and Game Department, tackle growing methamphetamine abuse, keep a handle on crime, and promote job development while protecting Idaho’s unique quality of life.

In other words, we expect Kempthorne to be Andrus, Batt and King Solomon rolled into one.