BOISE — Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch became Gov. Risch last week when the Idaho secretary of state's office received the resignation of former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as interior secretary.
The 54-year-old Kempthorne, a former senator, was confirmed on a voice vote to succeed Gale Norton as the steward of one-fifth of the nation's land.
"I am truly humbled by this opportunity," Risch said in a statement. "Vicki (his wife) and I love this state and its people, and I will vigorously fulfill my responsibilities as the state's chief executive."
"We're looking forward to the opportunities that are in front of us and we're going to do the best we possibly can for the state of Idaho," Risch said in an interview Friday with KTVB-Boise. "We've got things that I have to do and things that I'd like to do, also."
Risch declined to give details of his plans for the next several months, saying he would instead make an announcement during a news conference today. He also declined to say who he would tap as the new lieutenant governor.
"We've done some talking about it and we're in a position to make things happen quickly in the next few weeks," Risch said.
His public inauguration is planned for June 2 at the Statehouse. Risch said it will be a simple, inexpensive affair.
Kempthorne told Risch he would make a great governor.
"I think the state is somewhat lucky to have someone step in with the breadth of knowledge Risch has," said Jasper LiCalzi, a professor of political economy at Albertson College of Idaho. "He's been part of state government for over 30 years, so he doesn't have to be learning on the job."
The last time state officials went through the process of handing over the state's top job after a resignation was in 1976, when President Carter nominated then-Gov. Cecil Andrus as interior secretary and John Evans became governor.
Risch, 63, is running for re-election as lieutenant governor in November against Larry LaRocco, and his time as governor will end in January.
"I don't know if that has ever happened in Idaho," LiCalzi said. "A sitting governor running for lieutenant governor."
Meanwhile, Risch has been an active acting governor, traveling across the state. Earlier this month, he and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns signed a federal and state agreement that could eventually dry up 100,000 acres of farmland in eastern Idaho, part of a program meant to help protect an underground aquifer that's been depleted over the last 50 years through groundwater pumping and drought.