Governor-elect Brad Little will be sworn in as Idaho's 33rd governor on Friday, January 4 at noon.
Since winning the November 6 election, the Republican governor-elect, 64, has been focused on getting ready to govern.
"I've been to two boot camps for rookie governors," Little said.
He's been steadily building his team by hiring the people who will implement his policies. Little anticipates changes at the top of some state departments.
"Oh yeah. There will be quite a bit of change, but there are some great people there and some of them will stay," Little said.
And he's been talking with leaders in the Legislature.
"How are we going to get the work done of the people of the state of Idaho?" Little said. "That's what we're working through."
The governor-elect's priorities remain what he laid out on the campaign trail.
"Well, I want people to stay in Idaho," Little said. "So they've got to have a good job, increasing incomes, education is a huge part of that."
That includes increasing funding for public schools overall and for teacher pay raises. He also wants to focus on early childhood literacy.
"That we get all these kids to the starting line of life, which is reading proficiently by the end of the third grade and I want to work with the Legislature to put more resources in that area," Little said.
Last year lawmakers approved a $120 million tax cut. Little wants to give Idahoans another tax cut, but with revenues coming in $63 million lower than expected, he says it's 'wait and see.'
"My pledge to continue to decrease taxes was predicated on we needed to maintain our promise to education," Little said.
And he says he'll keep his promise to expand Medicaid after voters approved Proposition 2 in November.
That measure aims to cover the roughly 62,000 Idahoans who don't currently qualify for Medicaid because they make too much money, and don't qualify for a subsidy under the Your Health Idaho insurance exchange because they earn too little money.
"I've been in talks with the federal Department of Health and Welfare where any waivers any changes (would be made), what our track record is," Little said.
Little is also focused on writing his inaugural address. It will be his first opportunity to speak to all Idahoans as their governor.
"I think people want to know what makes me, me," Little said. "You know, the people of Idaho have been gracious in selecting me as their governor and I want them to have confidence in how I'm going to make decisions."
In this interview for KTVB's Viewpoint program, we took the opportunity to find out a little more about our next governor outside of politics.
For example, he decompresses by spending time on his ranch and with his wife of 40 years, Teresa, and their family. His favorite sport is college football. His hobbies are hunting, fishing and playing golf badly.
He also eats what he calls his "secret recipe" oatmeal for breakfast. But he did share his secret.
"Well, it's got flax and Chobani yogurt that I customize and Idaho honey on it," Little said. "I make oatmeal pretty darn good."
Now, we'll see what he serves up for Idaho starting on January 4.
Inauguration Ceremony Information
The inauguration ceremony will take place Friday, January 4 at noon on the south steps of the State Capitol Building. The ceremony will include the swearing in of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, treasurer, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
Inaugural Ball and Procession Information
Saturday, January 5 the Inaugural Procession and Ball will take place in the State Capitol Building.
Doors open at 7 p.m. The grand procession will start at 8.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under.
You can also buy tickets in person January 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Capitol's Garden Level, which is the underground wings.