Rick Jore

Rick Jore (born December 21, 1956) is a Montana politician and businessman and a former member of the 2006 Montana House of Representatives and chairman of the education committee. Jore was born and raised in Ronan, Montana and received his associate degree from North Idaho College in 1978. He is also the owner of Westslope Trout Company and the vice chairman of the Constitution Party of Montana.

Rick Jore
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 73rd district
In office
January 3, 2007  January 3, 2009
Preceded byJeanne Windham
Succeeded byJohn Fleming
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 12th district
In office
1995–2001
Succeeded byJoey Jayne
Personal details
Born (1956-12-21) December 21, 1956
Ronan, Montana
Political partyConstitution (2000-present)
Republican (1994-2000)
Spouse(s)Nancy Jore
ChildrenKari Kay Gilge,
Angie Lee Springer,
Nicole Rae Jore,
Rikke Gail Brown,
Benjamin Dale Jore
ResidenceRonan, Montana
OccupationOwner
Westslope Trout Company

First elected as a Republican in 1994, Jore served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives before switching to the Constitution Party, in March 2000.[1] 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.[2]

Early career and personal life

Jore spent 10 years working in a lumber mill.[3] He and his wife homeschooled their five children.[3]

2004 election

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

In the next election, Jore had a rematch with Jeanne Windham. This time, Jore won with 55.4% of the vote.[2] 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

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. As of March 19, 2009, he was still serving as the vice chairman of the Constitution Party of Montana.

Political positions

Jore has been described as a "no-compromise conservative" and as one of the most conservative legislators in Montana.[3] 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."[3]

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.[3] 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.[3]

Electoral History

1994 Montana House of Representatives District 73
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Jore 1,707 54.8%
Democratic Ervin Davis 1,406 45.2%
2000 Montana House of Representatives District 73
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joey Jane 1,872 50.7%
Constitution Rick Jore (incumbent) 1,818 49.3%
2002 Montana House of Representatives District 73
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%
2004 Montana House of Representatives District 12
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeanne Windham 1,559 36.9%
Constitution Rick Jore 1,559 36.9%
Republican Jack Cross 1,107 26.2%
2006 Montana House of Representatives District 12
Party Candidate Votes %
Constitution Rick Jore 2,045 55.5%
Democratic Jeanne Windham (incumbent) 1,643 44.6%

References

  1. Archived October 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "2006 General Legislative Election Results" (PDF). Sos.mt.gov. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  3. 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.
  4. "2004 General Legislative Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana.
  5. Montana Supreme Court gives state House race to Democrats, Associated Press (December 29, 2004).
  6. Paul Fugleberg, HD 12 Case Heads to Montana Supreme Court, Lake County Leader (December 23, 2004).
  7. Big Spring v. Jore, 109 P.3d 219 (Mont. 2005).
  8. "Montana Legislature: Sessions". Leg.mt.gov. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  9. "2008 Legislative General Election Results" (PDF). Sos.mt.gov. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
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