05/31/06 Risch names staff, inaugural plans

Dirk Kempthorne went to his new office yesterday. The 49th Secretary of the Interior reported to work in Washington DC following his Senate confirmation. He'll be at Interior for the next two years and seven months. Jim Risch, Kempthorne's successor as Idaho governor is on the job too but he will only be there for the next seven months. Yesterday Risch introduced his Chief of Staff John Sandy, a former state senator and chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, and four other members of his senior staff. What Risch did not name was his replacement as Lt Governor. Risch will be formally inaugurated at noon Friday in a Statehouse ceremony. RISCH "It's a tremendous honor, I approach it that way. I owe the people of the state of Idaho the best I've got and they're going to get it." Friday afternoon Governor and Mrs Risch will welcome the public to the Governor's Mansion, the former Boise foothills home of JR and Esther Simplot. That reception will begin at 4 pm on Friday. The hilltop house was given to the state by Simplot and then underwent an extensive remodeling. It will be the first time the public has had a chance to tour the mansion since the work was completed. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott