Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who will officially become Idaho’s governor as soon as Gov. Kempthorne’s resignation letter arrives at the Secretary of State’s office, is over in eastern Idaho this morning, where among other stops, he’ll be cooking with a search and rescue team at the annual Fishermen’s Breakfast that usually attracts thousands of folks in St. Anthony. Brad Hoaglund, who’s volunteering to help out in the governor’s office this morning on communications, reports that Risch will hold a press conference on Tuesday at 10:30 in the governor’s office to announce his staff and inaugural plans.

Don’t look for a giant platform across the Statehouse steps and planes flying over in formation, Hoaglund said. “There will be something on the steps, there will be a formal swearing-in,” he said. “We’ll do something formal for the public but we’re kind of limited a bit.” After all, Risch’s term as governor will be pretty short – “It’s seven months.” The public swearing-in is scheduled for June 2.

Hoaglund said the office is waiting for Kempthorne’s formal letter of resignation to be faxed to Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, as Kempthorne assumes his new duties as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. “Ben will send a letter of acceptance. According to the Constitution, that transfers the power and then we’ll move forward,” Hoaglund said.

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