Mark Ricks Interview

1st Disclaimer: I am not a member of any political party. I personally agree and disagree with aspects of both Republican and Democrat platforms.

2nd Disclaimer: I took notes during and after this interview. Since the conversation was not recorded, I gave a site business card to the interviewee and offered them to contact me if they felt I misquoted or mischaracterized them.

Temporary Governor Jim Risch announced yesterday he will appoint Mark Ricks as Idaho’s temporary lieutenant governor. When a new Idaho governor is sworn in next winter, Jim Risch will become lieutenant governor again (assuming he wins re-election), and Mark Ricks will step down from his appointed post.

I asked Mark if he planned to continue in public life after his appointed term ended, and he replied no. He explained the many years he had served in the Idaho Senate, and he had retired before. I asked why he was chosen and not someone else? Mark replied he didn’t know Jim Risch’s reasons, but he asked also and Jim just wanted Mark Ricks to serve in the post. I suggested Jim Risch just felt Mark Ricks would be the best, and Mark agreed.

I asked if he was familiar with blogs, to explain to him that I am not a professionally-trained journalist. He replied he was not familiar with them, that some family members were really sharp with computers, but he rarely turned his on. I decided to skip some of the technology-oriented questions.

I asked the following question:

News reports and polls indicate Republican leadership and policies are failing. Why would continued Republican dominance be better than the Democrats?

Mark replied that a Republican majority would be better because Republicans are more aligned with bedrock core principles that America was founded on. He said something about liberals invading the media and creating a biased image against Republicans. I followed up by asking how Democrats would do worse, but Mark did not have a definitive answer.

I asked the following question:

Why is it Republicans are traditionally the fiscally conservative, yet nationally they have allowed our debt to balloon several times to record levels and in-state they spent the surplus on pet projects rather than grant a tax refund?

Mark agreed that Republicans nationally had “gone hog wild” with spending money and their actions were contrary to conservative principles.

I asked the following question:

What’s the likelihood of a special session for the Idaho Legislature?

Mark said it was looking more and more likely a special session would be called, but only if the party leaders could agree on the solution. I asked if the special session would be called only if the result was a sure thing, and Mark agreed.

I asked the following question:

A post was written on IdahoFallz.com questioning how gay marriages harm the principle or institution of traditional marriage, and that in fact hot young hetero people likely strain traditional marriages more. I agree the argument of principle/institution is weak. Tell me in terms of dollars why the gay-marriage ban is needed?

Mark did not answer why the gay-marriage ban was needed in terms of dollars, but instead referred to his religion and beliefs in Adam and Eve, and that biological procreation was one of the few reasons humans exist. I agreed that homosexuality was biologically wrong, but dropped the questioning about economic harm from gay-marriages.

My personal interpretation of Mark Ricks is that he’s a friendly guy who has much political leadership experience and life wisdom. I don’t know that he is the best person to answer some of the more difficult issue questions posted earlier, especially the technology-related ones. Mark Ricks was pleasantly conversational.

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5. Jerry Brady Interview