Dirk Kempthorne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dirk Kempthorne
49th United States Secretary of the Interior
Incumbent
Assumed office  May 26, 2006
Under President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Gale Norton
30th Governor of Idaho
In office January, 1999 – May, 2006
Preceded by	Phil Batt
Succeeded by	Jim Risch
Born	October 29, 1951 San Diego, California
Political party	Republican
Religion	Methodist

Dirk Arthur Kempthorne (born October 29, 1951 in San Diego, California), is the current U.S. Secretary of the Interior, serving since May 2006. A Republican, Kempthorne previously served as Governor and as a U.S. Senator from Idaho.

Kempthorne was first elected to public office as mayor of Boise in 1985, where he served for seven years. Over the course of his long career in public service, Kempthorne established a reputation, even among his opponents, as a consensus-building leader and competent manager with a strong understanding of policy. ^[1]

Kempthorne is notable for his conservative views, particularly on economic issues.

Contents 1 Early life, education, and early career 2 Political career 2.1 Idaho 2.2 Secretary of the Interior 3 See Also 4 Notes 5 External links

[edit] Early life, education, and early career

Kempthorne was raised in San Bernardino, California. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1975 with a degree in political science, serving a term as student body president. Upon graduation Kempthorne served as an assistant to the director of the Idaho Department of Lands and then as executive vice president of the Idaho Home Builders Association.

In 1982, Kempthorne managed the gubernatorial campaign for Lt. Gov. Phil Batt, who lost to the incumbent Democrat, Governor John V. Evans. ^[2] In 1983 Kempthorne became state public affairs manager for FMC Corporation.

[edit] Political career

[edit] Idaho

Kempthorne's first major political victory was in 1985 when he was elected mayor of Boise. As mayor Kempthorne became very popular and was unopposed for reelection in 1989.

In 1992, U.S. Senator Steve Symms decided not to seek a third term and Kempthorne pursued the Republican nomination for the seat. In the general election, Kempthorne defeated Democratic Congressman Richard H. Stallings. In the Senate, Kempthorne sponsored and helped pass a bill meant to prohibit Congress from imposing unfunded federal mandates on states.

Kempthorne was expected to run for reelection in 1998, but instead decided to run for the open seat for governor. The incumbent, Phil Batt, finally elected in 1994, shocked the state by announcing his retirement after only one term in office. Kempthorne's Senate seat would be won by Republican Mike Crapo.

Kempthorne won the gubernatorial election in a landslide, receiving 68 percent of the vote while his Democratic opponent, Robert Huntley, received only 29 percent. He was reelected in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote, compared to his Democratic opponent, Jerry Brady, who polled 42 percent. Kempthorne's campaign spent nearly $200,000 more than it had received in contributions prior to the election; he spent the next two years raising funds to pay off the campaign debt. [1]

[edit] Secretary of the Interior

On March 16, 2006, Kempthorne was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace Gale Norton as the 49th Secretary of the Interior. On May 10, 2006, Kempthorne's nomination was approved by voice vote by the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He was confirmed by the full Senate on May 26, 2006 and resigned as governor to accept the position the same day. Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch succeeded Kempthorne as governor, filling out remaining months of the term.

Kempthorne is the second Idahoan to hold the Cabinet post. Former Governor Cecil Andrus was the Secretary of the Interior under President Jimmy Carter, serving from 1977-1981.

[edit] See Also

• Wise Use Movement

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Idaho Governor Selected to Lead Interior Dept. - Michael Janofsky, The New York Times, March 17, 2006
2. ^ Dirk Kempthorne - NNDB, accessed March 17, 2006

[edit] External links

• Department of the Interior website Sec. Kempthorne's biography
• The White House.gov Cabinet: Interior: Kempthorne

Preceded by: Richard B. Eardly	Mayor of Boise, Idaho 1985–1993	Succeeded by: H. Brent Coles
Preceded by: Steve Symms	Republican Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Idaho 1992 (won)	Succeeded by: Mike Crapo
Preceded by: Steve Symms	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Idaho 1993–1999	Succeeded by: Mike Crapo
Preceded by: Phil Batt	Republican Party nominee, Governor of Idaho 1998 (won), 2002 (won)	Succeeded by: C. L. "Butch" Otter
Preceded by: Phil Batt	Governor of Idaho January 4, 1999–May 26, 2006	Succeeded by: Jim Risch
Preceded by: Gale Norton	United States Secretary of the Interior Under President George W. Bush June 7, 2006 – present	Succeeded by: Incumbent
Preceded by: Alberto Gonzales	United States Presidential Line of Succession 8th in line	Succeeded by: Mike Johanns
Preceded by: Alberto Gonzales	United States order of precedence as of 2006	Succeeded by: Mike Johanns

Current members of the Cabinet of President George W. Bush
Bodman • Bolten • Chao • Cheney • Chertoff • Rumsfeld • Gonzales • Gutierrez • Jackson • Johanns • Johnson • Kempthorne • Leavitt • Nicholson • Paulson • Peters • Portman • Rice • Schwab • Spellings • Walters

United States Secretaries of the Interior

Ewing • McKennan • Stuart • McClelland • Thompson • C Smith • Usher • Harlan • Browning • Cox • Delano • Chandler • Schurz • Kirkwood • Teller • Lamar • Vilas • Noble • M Smith • Francis • Bliss • Hitchcock • Garfield • Ballinger • Fisher • Lane • Payne • Fall • Work • West • Wilbur • Ickes • Krug • Chapman • McKay • Seaton • Udall • Hickel • Morton • Hathaway • Kleppe • Andrus • Watt • Clark • Hodel • Lujan • Babbitt • Norton • Kempthorne

Governors of Idaho
Shoup • Willey • McConnell • Steunenberg • Hunt • Morrison • Gooding • Brady • Hawley • Haines • Alexander • Davis • Moore • Baldridge • Ross • B. Clark • Bottolfsen • C. Clark • Bottolfsen • Gossett • Williams • Robins • Jordan • Smylie • Samuelson • Andrus • Evans • Andrus • Batt • Kempthorne • Risch • Otter (elect)

United States Senators from Idaho
Class 2: Shoup • Dubois • Borah • Thomas • Gossett • Dworshak • Miller • Dworshak • Jordan • McClure • Craig Class 3: McConnell • Dubois • Heitfeld • Heyburn • Perky • Brady • Nugent • Gooding • Thomas • Pope • Clark • Taylor • Welker • Church • Symms • Kempthorne • Crapo