John V. Evans
Encyclopedia
John Victor Evans, Sr. (born January 18, 1925) was the 27th Governor of Idaho from 1977–87. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Evans was elected to the Idaho Senate
in 1952 and re-elected in 1954 and 1956, serving as majority leader in his final term. In 1960, Evans became mayor of Malad City
and served in that capacity until 1966. He returned to the state senate
in 1968 and served as minority leader from 1969–74.
Evans was elected the 33rd Lieutenant Governor
in 1974. He became governor in January 1977 when Cecil D. Andrus
accepted an appointment to become the Secretary of the Interior
in the Carter
administration.
Evans finished Andrus' term and was elected governor in his own right in 1978, defeating Republican
state representative Allan Larsen
. Evans was the first (and to date, only) Mormon to win election as governor in Idaho. He was re-elected in 1982, defeating Republican lieutenant governor
Phil Batt
.
Evans ran for the U.S. Senate
in 1986, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent Steve Symms
. He was succeeded as governor by Andrus. Evans became president of the Idaho-based D. L. Evans Bank
in January 1987.
Evans currently lives in Burley
.
Evans was elected to the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
in 1952 and re-elected in 1954 and 1956, serving as majority leader in his final term. In 1960, Evans became mayor of Malad City
Malad City, Idaho
For the Mumbai, India Suburb, see Malad .Malad City is the only city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 2,158 at the 2000 census....
and served in that capacity until 1966. He returned to the state senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
in 1968 and served as minority leader from 1969–74.
Evans was elected the 33rd Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant 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 1974. He became governor in January 1977 when Cecil D. Andrus
Cecil D. Andrus
Cecil Dale Andrus was an American politician who served as Governor of Idaho from 1971 to 1977, and again from 1987 to 1995; and in Washington as United States Secretary of the Interior from 1977 to 1981, during the Carter administration...
accepted an appointment to become the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
in the Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
administration.
Evans finished Andrus' term and was elected governor in his own right in 1978, defeating 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...
state representative Allan Larsen
Allan Larsen
Allan F. Larsen was a Republican politician from Idaho. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Idaho in 1978. Larsen was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, John V. Evans....
. Evans was the first (and to date, only) Mormon to win election as governor in Idaho. He was re-elected in 1982, defeating Republican lieutenant governor
Lieutenant 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....
Phil Batt
Phil Batt
Philip Eugene Batt was the 29th Governor of Idaho from 1995 to 1999.Batt was an onion and hops farmer from Wilder...
.
Evans ran for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1986, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent Steve Symms
Steve Symms
Steven Douglas Symms was a four-term congressman and two-term U.S. senator from Idaho. He was among the most conservative members of the Republican Party...
. He was succeeded as governor by Andrus. Evans became president of the Idaho-based D. L. Evans Bank
D. L. Evans Bank
D. L. Evans Bank is a bank headquartered in Burley, Idaho. The bank currently has branches in several Idaho cities, primarily in the state's Magic Valley region....
in January 1987.
Evans currently lives in Burley
Burley, Idaho
Burley is a city in Cassia and Minidoka counties in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 10,345 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Cassia County....
.