Bush picks Kempthorne

BOISE – President Bush nominated Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to be the next secretary of the Interior on Thursday, a move that sent political shock waves through Idaho and prompted mixed reactions across the nation.

If confirmed, Kempthorne would step down as governor as soon as next month – leaving current Lt. Gov. Jim Risch to finish out the final year of Kempthorne’s second term.

Risch, who already has filed for re-election as lieutenant governor but could still switch and run for governor by today’s 5 p.m. deadline, scheduled a press conference for 10:30 this morning. If he doesn’t change his plans, he’ll become a historical rarity – the first sitting governor in Idaho history to run for the lieutenant governor’s seat.

Kempthorne, speaking to reporters by telephone from Washington, D.C., said, “The president made it absolutely clear to me today – he said, ‘I want you to reach out …’ He wants me to find common ground and to build consensus.”

Kempthorne built a reputation as a consensus builder as mayor of Boise, when he ended a longstanding community stalemate over downtown redevelopment and helped establish a riverside greenbelt through the city. As a U.S. senator, he built bipartisan support for revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Act and tried, but failed, to develop reforms to the Endangered Species Act that could win support from all sides.

National environmental groups immediately condemned the choice, with the Sierra Club raising “serious concerns” and the Heritage Forests Campaign declaring, “Anyone who enjoys using public lands should be worried.” But those in Kempthorne’s home state sounded a much different note.

“He understands the West is changing – he understands the values of conservation are core to that,” said Rick Johnson, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League. “He does wear the cowboy boots, but they are polished cowboy boots. He’s a city guy, and that’s going to be reflected in what he does at Interior.”

As a former U.S. senator – he served one six-year term before leaving the Senate to run for governor – Kempthorne is expected to easily win Senate confirmation. “He’s been one of them back there – he’s been part of the club,” said Boise State University political scientist Jim Weatherby, who has followed Kempthorne’s career since he was mayor.

Kempthorne was the first Boise mayor in recent history to run unopposed for his second term in office, after decades of bitter city politics. He won his second term largely by acclamation.

His strong personal charisma made him popular in the U.S. Senate, where he surprised many by successfully sponsoring major legislation as a freshman. That included the safe drinking water amendments and legislation banning “unfunded mandates” on local governments.

Kempthorne’s good looks, bright-eyed sincerity and fondness for visiting with common people also endeared him to those in Washington, D.C. A Senate elevator operator once called him the nicest senator there.

His wife, Patricia, said, “It sounds like exactly what the president asked him to do is exactly who he is – even when he was mayor, being able to bring different groups of people together, that’s who he is.”

Kempthorne hasn’t been as popular as governor and has clashed with the Legislature over issues ranging from his ambitious proposal for bonding to improve highways across the state to his dogged support of lowering the supermajority for school bond votes – a campaign promise that’s proved a non-starter with legislators.

Weatherby noted that Kempthorne has been successful on the national stage even as he’s “had his frustrations and differences with the Idaho Legislature,” serving as chairman of the National Governors Association and in other high-profile roles.

Some Idaho lawmakers never fully accepted Kempthorne because he’d never been a state legislator, Weatherby said. “He did not have legislative experience, and that worked against him in many ways.”

Right now, Kempthorne is embroiled in a standoff with the Legislature over his highway program and his “Experiencing Idaho” parks initiative – a $34 million park-improvement and expansion program that lawmakers have yet to support.

But he’s notched major successes over the years in convincing lawmakers to issue bonds to build university buildings, cracking down on methamphetamine, successfully negotiating an end to a longstanding water rights dispute and pushing for improvements in children’s programs. He’s also built a reputation as a steadfast supporter of the troops through Idaho’s biggest National Guard mobilization in state history, personally shaking the hands of virtually every mobilized Idaho soldier to head overseas and welcoming them back when they returned.

Idaho state Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, said Kempthorne is a good choice for the Interior post. “He knows the natural resource issues and has the position and credibility in Washington, D.C., to do great things for our state,” Geddes said. “I think he likes utilization of natural resources in responsible ways, and we know how to do that.”

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, said, “I think the governor has a good track record of doing what it appears the president is interested in doing, and that’s bringing diverse groups together and finding common ground. He’s got a pretty good track record on natural resources in that regard, particularly.”

Idaho 1st District Congressman Butch Otter, who is running for governor in the next election, said, “Dirk knows our values and our priorities. He knows how important it is for local folks to have a seat at the table on resource issues, both to build consensus and to find solutions that work. … I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Kempthorne praised outgoing Interior Secretary Gale Norton, and said if he differs from her in style, it would be to be more inclusive. He also said he’ll be able to make his mark as secretary, though there will be just two and a half years left in the term he’ll serve.

“That’s something I did discuss with the president – is there expectation that a new secretary can launch new initiatives and bring them to a successful conclusion? The answer is yes,” Kempthorne said. “… A lot can be done in 2 1/2 years.”

Bush, standing side by side with Kempthorne in the Oval Office, said in a televised announcement, “Dirk will continue my administration’s efforts to conserve our land, water and air resources. … Dirk brings wide experience to these important tasks.”

The president noted Kempthorne’s love for the outdoors, and the fact that he and Patricia chose to be married atop Moscow Mountain at sunrise because “there’s no more beautiful cathedral than the outdoors.”

Johnson, of the Conservation League, noted that Kempthorne talks often about how he loves to ride his Harley around Idaho and to camp in the Idaho woods. “I think in his gut he’s an urban guy who cares about the outdoors,” he said. “I think it’s genuine.”

Kempthorne stressed that he’s still governor and will continue to work on state issues as he seeks U.S. Senate confirmation. “I’m still the sitting governor, and I will still conduct the affairs of state – we have many issues still before us,” he said. “I will remain actively involved as the governor of the state of Idaho.”

Kempthorne said he’ll return to Idaho on Monday night

But Weatherby said he may be less focused on cementing his legacy as governor now that he’s preparing for a Senate confirmation hearing.

“How many public servants anywhere in the country have four major offices under their belt?” Weatherby asked. “He has a prospect of having served in four major offices. That’s a tremendous achievement in itself, regardless of the record in any one given position.”

If confirmed, Kempthorne will become the second sitting Idaho governor to be chosen as Interior secretary. Four-term Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus was tapped by President Jimmy Carter for the post in 1977.