Gov. Phil Batt, who in 1994 was elected heavily Republican Idaho's first GOP chief executive in 24 years, said Wednesday he will not seek a second term. He cited his age as the primary reason.
"I am 70 years old, and if I were to serve out another term I would be nearly 76," he said."The Lord has devised an excellent system. Those of us who have obtained experience, and thereby a measure of wisdom, are obligated to share the lessons learned with those who are younger. In time, however, it is in the best interest of society for us to step aside and give the reins to those who are stronger and who have keener vision for the future."
Batt announced his decision after months of speculation. His reticence even prompted House Speaker Michael Simpson recently to abandon consideration of running for governor himself next year, concluding Batt would not wait so long to disclose his intentions unless he planned to be a candidate.
U.S. Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Rep. Michael Crapo and Lt. Gov. Butch Otter have been among those mentioned as possibilities for the Republican nomination to succeed Batt. The governor, a former state GOP chairman, has said he would not interfere with the primary process by anointing a successor. But Kempthorne, who managed his failed 1982 campaign for governor, has been close to Batt for years.
Batt would have been a prohibitive favorite to win re-election.
Having achieved an historic nuclear waste pact with the federal government, weathered a pitched campaign to rescind it and won passage of a landmark bill ending agriculture's 79-year exemption from the Idaho worker's compensation law, Batt is at the peak of his popularity.
Moreover, surgery earlier this year relieved years of nagging back pain and gave him a new lease on life.
But Batt already has achieved or set the state on course toward many of his goals as governor. He has emphasized efforts to make state government more efficient while launching initiatives to reform welfare and Medicaid.
He also has made strides toward improved relations with Indian tribes and established panels to consider the future of gambling in Idaho and how to handle deregulation of the electric power industry.
The Wilder onion farmer and former state legislator and lieutenant governor took office in 1995 after Democrats Cecil Andrus and John Evans had held it since 1971. Batt defeated Democrat Larry EchoHawk, now a law professor at Brigham Young University.
No Democratic gubernatorial candidate for 1998 has stepped forward yet.
Besides age, Batt said he also decided not to run again because he was tired of dealing with controversy.
"I've never learned the art of political posturing and positioning which serves as a haven from criticism," he said. "I face problems head-on, then make a decision and live with the consequences. If I make a mistake I say so and move on. And, although I've enjoyed broad support, I'm not comfortable with the loud cries of protest I occasionally hear. I don't like making people mad."