C. Ben Ross

Charles Benjamin Ross (born December 27, 1876 in Parma , Canyon County , Idaho , † March 31, 1946 in Boise , Idaho) was an American politician and governor of the state of Idaho from 1931 to 1937 .

Early years and political advancement

Charles Ross attended, among other things, the Portland Commercial College . Since 1897 he helped his father run his ranch. He also took part in public life in his homeland and was represented on some local committees. Ross became a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1900 and 1905 he was Vice President of the Riverside Irrigation District and from 1915 to 1921 he was employed in Canyon County Administration. Between 1917 and 1923 he was also on the board of the Idaho Farmers Committee. From 1922 to 1930 he was mayor of Pocatello . In 1928 he ran unsuccessfully for governor.

Governor of Idaho

In 1930, Charles Ross was elected governor of his state. After he was re-elected in 1932 and 1934, he was able to exercise this office between January 5, 1931 and January 4, 1937. He was the first Idaho governor to be elected to this office three times in a row. At the beginning of his term in office, the state was still suffering severely from the global economic crisis . This could only be overcome in the course of the following years with the help of federal politics and President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal . The governor supported these measures. During this time, Idaho passed several new tax laws, with a sales tax being rejected in a 1936 referendum. It was also when Idaho's driving license was introduced into law. After prohibition was lifted in 1933, Idaho began selling alcohol through state distributors. In 1936 Ross ran unsuccessfully for re-election. His candidacy for a seat in the US Senate was equally unsuccessful .

Another résumé

In 1938 Ross ran again unsuccessfully for governor of Idaho. Then he withdrew from politics and devoted himself to his private interests. He died in March 1946 and was buried in Parma. He had four children with his wife Edna Reavis.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Ben Ross at the National Governors Association (English)
• C. Ben Ross in the database of Find a Grave (English)