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Kempthorne, Craig Could Be Nominees

Posted on: Saturday, 11 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By Gregory Hahn, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Mar. 11--Interior Secretary Gale Norton's retirement is bound to fuel more speculation about Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's post-Statehouse future.

Kempthorne was on a shortlist to head the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003 and has been mentioned around as a potential cabinet member for President Bush.

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, too, has been mentioned for the departments of Interior and Agriculture.

Idaho's last major appointee was former Gov. Cecil Andrus, who ran Interior for President Carter.

Norton's announcement Friday took many politicos by surprise. Online traffic wasn't rampant Friday afternoon, but Kempthorne is the No. 1 contender on the potential successor list written by political blogger Andrew Langer.

Here's some fuel for the fire: Kempthorne spent two nights at the White House at the end of February with a few other governors while in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association meeting.

Kempthorne wasn't commenting about the vacancy on Friday.

If Kempthorne left the state, he would be replaced by Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who announced his intention to run again for his position a few months ago and has already filed with the Secretary of State. Friday evening, he said his plans haven't changed -- and weren't likely to by Friday's deadline to get on the ballot for governor.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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