Rick Jore
Rick Jore | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Jeanne Windham |
| Succeeded by | John Fleming |
| Constituency | 73rd district |
| In office 1995–2001 | |
| Succeeded by | Joey Jayne |
| Constituency | 12th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 21, 1956 Ronan, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Constitution (2000–present) Republican (1994–2000) |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | North Idaho College (AS) |
Rick Jore (born December 21, 1956) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 and 2007 to 2009.
Early life and education
[edit]Jore was born and raised in Ronan, Montana, and received his associate degree from North Idaho College in 1978.
Career
[edit]He is also the owner of Westslope Trout Company and the vice chairman of the Constitution Party of Montana. Jore spent 10 years working in a lumber mill.[1]
First elected as a Republican in 1994, Jore served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives before switching his affiliation to the Constitution Party in March 2000.[2] Jore ran again for the legislature in 2000 and 2002 as a Constitution Party candidate and was narrowly defeated in both attempts. A very narrow defeat in 2004, after a recount, was followed by a successful run in 2006, defeating his Democratic opponent 2,045 to 1,643 votes.[3]
2004 election
[edit]In the very close 2004 election, following a recount, Jore initially tied with Democratic nominee Jeanne Windham, with each receiving 1,559 votes (Republican Jack Cross received 1,107 votes) in state House District 12.[4]
Because there was a tie, under Montana law the outgoing Republican Governor Judy Martz, was entitled to choose the winner, and she selected Jore—which gave the Republicans a 50-49 lead over Democrats in the state House, with Jore as the only Constitution Party member.[5]
The matter went to the state courts,[6] and in December 2004, the Montana Supreme Court issued its initial ruling, finding in a 6-1 decision that "one or more" of seven contested ballots for Jore were invalid.[5] The decision meant that Windham was elected to office, which in turn created a tie in the state House, which was evenly split (50-50) between Republicans and Democrats in the House. Because the incoming governor, Brian Schweitzer, was a Democrat, this meant that the new state House speaker would be a Democrat.[5] The Court's written opinion was issued March 18, 2005.[7]
2006 election
[edit]In the next election, Jore had a rematch with Jeanne Windham. This time, Jore won with 55.4% of the vote.[3] With Republicans controlling the Montana House by a slim margin of 50-49, Jore obtained an unexpected amount of political leverage and was appointed chairman of the House Education Committee.[8]
2008 election
[edit]Since Jore had already served in the Montana House as a Republican before his 2006 election as a member of the Constitution Party of Montana, state term-limit laws barred him from running for the Montana House in 2008.[9] He attempted to qualify an initiative for the ballot, called the Personhood Amendment, but failed to gather enough signatures.[citation needed] As of March 19, 2009, he was still serving as the vice chairman of the Constitution Party of Montana.[citation needed]
Political positions
[edit]Jore has been described as a "no-compromise conservative" and as one of the most conservative legislators in Montana.[1] Jore supports an "original intent" approach to interpreting the U.S. Constitution, stating that "The concept of a living constitution is in my mind an absolute perversion."[1]
Jore has authored bills that call for eliminating state laws requiring compulsory school attendance, outlawing affirmative action and abandoning Montana's no-fault divorce laws by requiring a judge to publicly declare who is to blame for the breakup and imposing a financial penalty.[1] Other bills that Jore has authored would end the state inheritance tax, phase in a 20 percent reduction in individual income taxes, terminate the state-tribal hunting and fishing agreement on the Flathead Indian Reservation, and a right-to-work state by prohibiting payment of union dues as a condition of employment.[1]
Personal life
[edit]He and his wife homeschooled their five children.[1]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rick Jore | 1,707 | 54.8% | |
| Democratic | Ervin Davis | 1,406 | 45.2% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joey Jane | 1,872 | 50.7% | |
| Constitution | Rick Jore (incumbent) | 1,818 | 49.3% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joey Jane (incumbent) | 1,539 | 49.3% | |
| Constitution | Rick Jore | 1,339 | 42.9% | |
| Republican | Josh D. King | 245 | 7.9% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeanne Windham | 1,559 | 36.9% | |
| Constitution | Rick Jore | 1,559 | 36.9% | |
| Republican | Jack Cross | 1,107 | 26.2% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution | Rick Jore | 2,045 | 55.5% | |
| Democratic | Jeanne Windham (incumbent) | 1,643 | 44.6% | |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f CHARLES S. JOHNSON Missoulian State Bureau (1999-01-25). "For Rick Jore, it's the Constitution above all else : Uncategorized". Missoulian.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
- ^ [1] Archived October 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "2006 General Legislative Election Results" (PDF). Sos.mt.gov. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
- ^ "2004 General Legislative Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana.
- ^ a b c Montana Supreme Court gives state House race to Democrats, Associated Press (December 29, 2004).
- ^ Paul Fugleberg, HD 12 Case Heads to Montana Supreme Court, Lake County Leader (December 23, 2004).
- ^ Big Spring v. Jore, 109 P.3d 219 (Mont. 2005).
- ^ "Montana Legislature: Sessions". Leg.mt.gov. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
- ^ "2008 Legislative General Election Results" (PDF). Sos.mt.gov. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
External links
[edit]- 1956 births
- Living people
- 20th-century members of the Montana Legislature
- 21st-century members of the Montana Legislature
- Candidates in the 2002 United States elections
- Candidates in the 2004 United States elections
- Montana Constitutionalists
- People from Ronan, Montana
- Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives
- North Idaho College alumni