Larry LaRocco
Encyclopedia
Larry LaRocco is a Democratic politician from the US state of Idaho
, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives
. LaRocco was defeated by Republican
Jim Risch
for the open U.S. Senate seat in Idaho in 2008.
, a district of Los Angeles. He attended Stanford University
's Institute of Television and Radio, as well as the University of Portland
, receiving his B.A. in 1967. He earned his M.S. from Boston University
in 1969; during the 1968–69 period, he also studied at the Johns Hopkins
School of Advanced International Studies.
LaRocco and his wife Chris have two children and two grandchildren.
and was commissioned on August 15, 1969; he was eventually promoted to captain
and served in military intelligence
at the Intelligence Data Handling Systems (IDHS) at 7th Army Headquarters in Heidelberg
, Germany towards the end of his army career. On May 24, 1972, the Baader-Meinhof Gang, the precursor of the Red Army Faction
, exploded a car bomb outside of Campbell Barracks
which killed three of LaRocco's fellow soldiers. LaRocco was honorably discharged June 10, 1972.
field co-ordinator for Idaho U.S. Senator Frank Church
, a position he held until Church's defeat in 1980; in 1976, he also was the co-ordinator for the Oregon
primary election
for Church's Presidential
run.
In the 1982 elections, LaRocco was the Democratic nominee for Idaho's 1st congressional district
; he lost to incumbent Larry Craig
, but received 46.5 percent of the vote on his first try for public office. LaRocco also gained notice that year for taking jobs for one week in each of the district's 19 counties. He variously worked on a garbage truck, picked apples, waited on tables, worked in a nursing home and on a logging road crew, fed Coho smolt
and processed cheese, among other things.
After the 1982 race, he became the vice-president of a brokerage firm in 1983. In 1986, he ran for the Idaho Legislature
, losing an Idaho State Senate race in Ada County
to Republican incumbent Jim Risch
.
seat in the United States House of Representatives
in 1990. He was re-elected in 1992, winning every county in the district and with a 50,000-vote margin over his main opponent--a surprising margin, considering the 1st has historically been a very Republican
district.
LaRocco was the only member of Congress from Idaho to vote for the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
. The vote proved to be quite unpopular in the district, and was exploited by Republicans
in LaRocco's subsequent election campaigns.
LaRocco was defeated in his attempt to win a third term in 1994 by Republican Helen Chenoweth, becoming one of a large number of Democrats to lose their seats in a nationwide string of Republican victories as the Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 40 years. LaRocco would be the last Democrat to represent Idaho in Congress until the election of Walt Minnick
to the 1st congressional district seat in 2008.
. In the May 23 primary he won the nomination but lost to Risch in the November 7, 2006 general election.
network.
A key feature of the LaRocco campaign was his "Working for the Senate" program. During the campaign, LaRocco worked at thirty-five separate positions around the state of Idaho.
He has also engaged his opponents in a series of debates around the state of Idaho. On August 18, 2008, he and Independent candidate Rex Rammell met for a one-hour debate in Coeur d'Alene
. These two met again in Sandpoint
on September 10. A third debate took place on the campus of the College of Idaho in Caldwell
on September 25. LaRocco and Rammell were joined at this event by Libertarian candidate Kent Marmon and Independent Pro-Life.
A fourth debate was held between LaRocco and Rammell on October 1, 2008 at the University of Idaho
, in Moscow
.
KLEW-TV
, the CBS affiliate located in Lewiston
, hosted a debate on October 8 which featured Larry LaRocco, Jim Risch and Rex Rammell. This was the first time that the Republican candidate joined his opponents in a debate in 2008.
Rammell and LaRocco met once again for a debate in Idaho Falls
on October 13.
On October 16 LaRocco and Rammell debated for the seventh time. This time the debate was held on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho
in Twin Falls
.
KTVB-TV, the NBC affiliate located in Boise
sponsored a debate on October 21 between Jim Risch
, Larry LaRocco, Rex Rammell and Pro-Life on the campus of Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa
. This 90 minute forum was co-hosted by the Idaho Press-Tribune and the Idaho Business Review. It marked only the second time that Republican Jim Risch was present for any of these debates.
The statewide debate hosted by Idaho Public Television
, the League of Women Voters
and the Idaho Press Club was held on October 23 in Boise
. Four of the five candidates for the United States Senate were in attendance. Republican Jim Risch was not.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. LaRocco was defeated by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jim Risch
Jim Risch
James Elroy "Jim" Risch is a Republican politician, rancher, and attorney from Ada County, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Idaho. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho.-Early life:Risch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
for the open U.S. Senate seat in Idaho in 2008.
Early life and family
LaRocco was born in Van NuysVan Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...
, a district of Los Angeles. He attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
's Institute of Television and Radio, as well as the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
, receiving his B.A. in 1967. He earned his M.S. from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1969; during the 1968–69 period, he also studied at the Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Advanced International Studies.
LaRocco and his wife Chris have two children and two grandchildren.
Military service
LaRocco joined the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was commissioned on August 15, 1969; he was eventually promoted to captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
and served in military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
at the Intelligence Data Handling Systems (IDHS) at 7th Army Headquarters in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Germany towards the end of his army career. On May 24, 1972, the Baader-Meinhof Gang, the precursor of the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
, exploded a car bomb outside of Campbell Barracks
Campbell Barracks
Campbell Barracks, in Heidelberg, Germany, is the location of the Headquarters of the United States Army in Europe and Seventh Army Campbell Barracks, in Heidelberg, Germany, is the location of the Headquarters of the United States Army in Europe and Seventh Army Campbell Barracks, in Heidelberg,...
which killed three of LaRocco's fellow soldiers. LaRocco was honorably discharged June 10, 1972.
Political career
In 1975, LaRocco took a job as northern IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
field co-ordinator for Idaho U.S. Senator Frank Church
Frank Church
Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
, a position he held until Church's defeat in 1980; in 1976, he also was the co-ordinator for the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Church's Presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
run.
In the 1982 elections, LaRocco was the Democratic nominee for Idaho's 1st congressional district
Idaho's 1st congressional district
Idaho's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Idaho. The district encompasses the western and northern parts of the state and includes the western third of the state capital, Boise, and most of its suburbs, including Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian...
; he lost to incumbent Larry Craig
Larry Craig
Larry Edwin Craig is a former Republican politician from the U.S. state of Idaho. He served 18 years in the U.S. Senate , preceded by 10 years in the U.S. House, representing Idaho's first district . His 28 years in the Congress rank as the second-longest in Idaho history, trailing only William...
, but received 46.5 percent of the vote on his first try for public office. LaRocco also gained notice that year for taking jobs for one week in each of the district's 19 counties. He variously worked on a garbage truck, picked apples, waited on tables, worked in a nursing home and on a logging road crew, fed Coho smolt
Smolt
Smolt may refer to:* Spawn , a juvenile fish.* Smolt , a project aimed at hardware information collection....
and processed cheese, among other things.
After the 1982 race, he became the vice-president of a brokerage firm in 1983. In 1986, he ran for the Idaho Legislature
Idaho Legislature
The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...
, losing an Idaho State Senate race in Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
to Republican incumbent Jim Risch
Jim Risch
James Elroy "Jim" Risch is a Republican politician, rancher, and attorney from Ada County, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Idaho. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho.-Early life:Risch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
.
U.S. House of Representatives
LaRocco won Idaho's 1st congressional districtIdaho's 1st congressional district
Idaho's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Idaho. The district encompasses the western and northern parts of the state and includes the western third of the state capital, Boise, and most of its suburbs, including Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian...
seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1990. He was re-elected in 1992, winning every county in the district and with a 50,000-vote margin over his main opponent--a surprising margin, considering the 1st has historically been a very Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
district.
LaRocco was the only member of Congress from Idaho to vote for the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 was federal law that was enacted by the 103rd United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. It has also been referred to, unofficially, as the Deficit Reduction Act of 1993...
. The vote proved to be quite unpopular in the district, and was exploited by Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in LaRocco's subsequent election campaigns.
LaRocco was defeated in his attempt to win a third term in 1994 by Republican Helen Chenoweth, becoming one of a large number of Democrats to lose their seats in a nationwide string of Republican victories as the Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 40 years. LaRocco would be the last Democrat to represent Idaho in Congress until the election of Walt Minnick
Walt Minnick
Walter Clifford "Walt" Minnick is the former U.S. House of Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
to the 1st congressional district seat in 2008.
Lieutenant Governor campaign
On March 18, 2006, LaRocco filed to run for Lieutenant Governor of IdahoLieutenant Governor of Idaho
Lieutenant Governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the State of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term....
. In the May 23 primary he won the nomination but lost to Risch in the November 7, 2006 general election.
U.S. Senate campaign
In April 2007, LaRocco announced that he would be a candidate for the U.S. Senate. It was the third time LaRocco ran against Risch in an election, as LaRocco and Risch both decisively won their respective primaries on May 27, 2008. LaRocco's campaign invested in a grassrootsGrassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
network.
A key feature of the LaRocco campaign was his "Working for the Senate" program. During the campaign, LaRocco worked at thirty-five separate positions around the state of Idaho.
He has also engaged his opponents in a series of debates around the state of Idaho. On August 18, 2008, he and Independent candidate Rex Rammell met for a one-hour debate in Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coeur d'Alene has the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the population of Coeur...
. These two met again in Sandpoint
Sandpoint, Idaho
Sandpoint is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Bonner County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 7,365 at the 2010 census.Sandpoint's major economic contributors include forest products and light manufacturing, tourism and recreation and government services...
on September 10. A third debate took place on the campus of the College of Idaho in Caldwell
Caldwell, Idaho
Caldwell is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 43,281, as of July 2009.Caldwell is the home of the College of Idaho. It is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area....
on September 25. LaRocco and Rammell were joined at this event by Libertarian candidate Kent Marmon and Independent Pro-Life.
A fourth debate was held between LaRocco and Rammell on October 1, 2008 at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
.
KLEW-TV
KLEW-TV
KLEW-TV, broadcast on digital channel 32 and is the CBS television affiliate in Lewiston, Idaho. It serves north-central Idaho and southeastern Washington, including nearby Pullman. While it is located in the Spokane television market, it is a semi-satellite of KIMA 29 in Yakima and KEPR 19 in...
, the CBS affiliate located in Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
, hosted a debate on October 8 which featured Larry LaRocco, Jim Risch and Rex Rammell. This was the first time that the Republican candidate joined his opponents in a debate in 2008.
Rammell and LaRocco met once again for a debate in Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
on October 13.
On October 16 LaRocco and Rammell debated for the seventh time. This time the debate was held on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding....
in Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
.
KTVB-TV, the NBC affiliate located in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
sponsored a debate on October 21 between Jim Risch
Jim Risch
James Elroy "Jim" Risch is a Republican politician, rancher, and attorney from Ada County, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Idaho. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho.-Early life:Risch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, Larry LaRocco, Rex Rammell and Pro-Life on the campus of Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
. This 90 minute forum was co-hosted by the Idaho Press-Tribune and the Idaho Business Review. It marked only the second time that Republican Jim Risch was present for any of these debates.
The statewide debate hosted by Idaho Public Television
Idaho Public Television
Idaho Public Television is a Public Broadcasting Service member network serving the state of Idaho. It comprises five television stations, operated and funded by the Idaho State Board Of Education...
, the League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
and the Idaho Press Club was held on October 23 in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. Four of the five candidates for the United States Senate were in attendance. Republican Jim Risch was not.
External links
- Larry LaRocco for U.S. Senate official campaign website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
CongresspediaCongresspediaCongresspedia was a wiki that ran from April 2006 to March 2009, designed to hold information on the workings of the U.S. Congress. It was fully contained within SourceWatch, a larger wiki meant to document the people, organizations and issues shaping the public agenda. The Congresspedia portion of...