Rex Rammell

Rex Rammell is a conservative politician from Idaho. Rammell ran unsuccessfully in the 2008 Idaho senatorial election against Republican Jim Risch, polling 5.4% of the vote, and in 2009 announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for governor in the 2010 Idaho gubernatorial election. He came in second to incumbent Butch Otter, polling 42,436 (26%) to Otter's 89,117 (54.6%). In the 2010 Primary, Rammell defeated Otter in only two counties and tied him in another. Rammell's number top county was Benewah where he polled nearly 58% of the vote to Otter's 33%. Rammell's number two county was Idaho County where he polled 46% to Otter's 40%. Both candidates polled 43% in Boundary County, with Otter receiving two votes more than Rammell. Rammell despite several attempts, Rammell has never held public office.

Controversy

In August 2006, nearly 160 elk escaped from Rammell's Chief Joseph hunting preserve just ten miles outside of Yellowstone National Park. Rammell was required by law to report that the elk were missing and failed to do so. In September 2006, fearing the domesticated animals would hurt the genetic integrity of wild elk herds, Idaho Governor Jim Risch ordered an emergency hunt to kill the loose elk from Rammell's ranch. the hunt cost Idaho taxpayers $70,000 and was largely regarded as unsuccessful. Rammell's trophy elk hunting farm was regarded by the Boone and Crockett Club as a "canned hunt" and was regarded by the Safari Club International as "violat[ing]the principle of 'fair chase' — that is, a hunt in which the animal being pursued has a sporting chance to escape." In October 2006, Rammell was charged with obstructing a police officer after he refused to get off a dead elk that had been killed by authorities. He was acquitted by a six-person jury in Fremont County, Idaho in March, 2007. When Rammell's daughter won the Miss Idaho USA pageant in 2007, she refused to have her picture taken with Risch because of Risch's executive order that allowed the killing of Rammell's elk.

In August 2009, while at a town hall meeting opposing proposed national health care legislation, Rammell was briefly involved in a controversy when it was reported that he had joked about seeking a license to hunt President Barack Obama. The controversy stemmed from a event that Rammell had attended in Twin Falls, Idaho where he was speaking to a group of sportsmen about the upcoming wolf hunt when a woman in the audience asked, "what about Obama tags?" Rammell replied in jest, "yeah, we'd buy some of those."

In January 2010, Rammell faced controversy when he announced to a private meeting that only "Mormon elders" would be invited to a meeting discussing an alleged prophecy from Mormon leader Joseph Smith. When asked by Nate Shelman of KBOI radio in Boise, why women were not invited, Rammell stated that is not how Mormon families work and that men are the head of the household. Rammell touted the "White Horse Prophecy", a purported prophecy by Joseph Smith that there would come a time when the Constitution of the United States would "hang by a thread" and would be saved by Mormon elders. Rammell had never mentioned the so-called White Horse prophecy but mentioned the alleged quote by Joseph Smith in an effort to resonate Rammell's perceived seriousness of the political climate to fellow members of his church. Rammell later stated his belief in and pursuit of the "White Horse Prophecy" during a live radio interview.. Rammell's actions prompted The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to state that the Church "is politically neutral and does not endorse or promote any candidate, party or platform. The IRS Tax Exemption Code prohibits the Church from endorsing any political candidate or political party."

On November 30, 2010 Rammell was cited by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game after he killed a cow elk with an expired elk tag in the wrong hunting zone. Rammell, who was armed with a hunting rifle at the time, allegedly threatened the officer who attempted to confiscate his elk and refused to cooperate with law enforcement officials. In the weeks following the incident, Rammell made a number of media appearances in which he repetitively referred to Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers as "Nazis" and critics as "unpatriotic." On the day following the incident during a radio interview, Rammell became so incensed that told one critic to "get the hell off the phone."Rammell's actions prompted a number of sportsmen and journalists to speak out against him.

On December 23, 2010 Rammell pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing wildlife taken unlawfully.

On December 15, 2010 at a town hall meeting held in Idaho County, Idaho, Rammell encouraged a crowd of about 100 supporters to defy "local, State, and Federal authorities" by killing as many wolves as humanly possible. Rammell's repetitive verbal attacks on state and local authorities prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a public statement warning Idaho residents that action would be taken against any persons found in violation of federal law by killing wolves.

Early life

Rammell was born in Tetonia, Idaho, on 2 January 1961 and raised in Eastern Idaho.

Career

Rammell is a veterinarian, former elk rancher and author of the recently released book titled, "A Nation Divided: The War For America's Soul".

Personal life

Rammell has been married to his wife Lynda since 1983 and they have four children; the eldest, Mandy, was Miss Idaho USA in 2007. After the 2010 primary defeat Rammel announced he may move to Idaho County in the northern-central part of the state and where he polled well compared to most of the state.