“We’re going to see what people want (this election season),” James Ruchti told East Idaho News. “Do they want extreme partisanship, extreme rhetoric, fighting about ideology. Or do they want people to represent them who just want to get the work done and provide good government, and help working people solve the problems that are most important to them.”
A fifth-generation Pocatellan and current state representative, Ruchti has served three terms in the Idaho State House of Representatives. He served from 2006 to 2010 before returning to District 29 Seat B in 2020. After originally planning to run for re-election in the same position, Ruchti decided instead to run for Idaho State Senate.
Ruchti graduated from West Point and served as a U.S. Army military intelligence officer from 1993 to 1998. He later earned a law degree from the University of Idaho, then came back to serve his home community.
Outside of legislative goals and successes, a pillar of Ruchti's campaign is his willingness to take on the hyper partisan and extremist influence at the Capitol. This is especially important because his opponent falls into the dangerous far-right category Ruchti experienced in Boise. He has worked hard to reach across the aisle by prioritizing bi-partisan legislation and by taking a state tour to visit with republican legislators, and industry, education, and business leaders. This helped him develop relationships across the state and allowed all parties to speak to the problems they are experiencing due to the divided political climate in the legislature.
In terms of legislation, Ruchti had a few noteworthy bills drafted and/or passed in the 2022 session. He co-sponsored a bipartisan piece of legislation that improved efficiencies at the Industrial Commission for settlements in workers’ compensation cases. Right now, the Industrial Commission is required by statute to approve all settlement agreements between employers/sureties and injured workers. In many cases, this requirement slows down the process, thereby exacerbating the financial hardship the worker is experiencing. In some cases, this requirement even prevents the parties from being able to settle their dispute even though both parties are represented by attorneys and want to settle. His bill eliminates the requirement for represented parties to have their settlements approved.
Ruchti also co-sponsored another bipartisan piece of legislation that would protect renters from predatory practices in relation to rental application fees. As the real estate market continues to tighten, there is very little inventory to rent. Renters fill out many applications and pay the accompanying fees but never hear back. In some cases, the landlord or property management company only has one apartment but accepts dozens of applications with fees, using it as a profit center. Ruchti's bill stopped such practices and used a light touch on the market by simply targeting bad behavior and bad actors instead of regulating the whole industry. While the bill did not pass, we think there was wide recognition this problem needs to be addressed. He will bring the bill back next year.
Following the 2022 session, Ruchti will be focused on protecting Idaho’s Judicial Council. The Judicial Council was set up 55 years ago to ensure Idaho’s judicial branch remained independent and its judges were high caliber jurists. The Judicial Council vets potential applicants for judicial positions and then passes on a list of names from which the Governor selects the appointed judge. The system has worked phenomenally over the years and without significant complaints. Nevertheless, this year a group of legislators tried to drastically rewrite the way the Judicial Council functioned, putting at risk the independence of the judiciary and the ultimate quality of our judges in Idaho. The bill passed, but Governor Little saw the many flaws in the bill and vetoed it. The bill will likely come back next year, so Ruchti wants to make sure any changes to the Council are needed and helpful.
While serving in the House from 2006-2010, the most notable legislation he passed was a bill relating to child sexual abuse cases and a bill adding a provision to the Idaho Consumer Protection Act to provide additional protections for the elderly and disabled.
"Let’s keep it up and elect common sense leaders across the state. Now that I’m home, I’m ready and more motivated than ever to campaign. I hope you are too."