About James Ruchti
James and his wife, Wendy, have been married since 1993. They spent the first few years of their marriage in Germany while James served in the military. When he wasn’t out in the field or deployed, they managed to travel all over Europe in their Nissan Pulsar (not a family-friendly car) with their brand-new baby, Spencer, along for the ride in his car seat. Upon returning to the States, they had another son, Drew, and their family was complete.
After leaving the military, James and Wendy went back to school at the University of Idaho, where James obtained his law degree and Wendy earned her Ph.D. in education. She has taught public school, been a school coach for a national education non-profit, and is now a professor at the College of Education at ISU.
While growing up, Spencer and Drew had a rock band, Seven Feet Below. James and Wendy served as groupies and stage crew for the band – the best (and worst paying) jobs they ever had. Spencer and Drew are now college graduates, themselves, and are off doing great things in life.
Now that James and Wendy are empty-nesters, they spend their time doing CrossFit and enjoying the great outdoors; that is, when they aren’t counting the days down until they get to go adventuring with their boys again!
My Idaho Roots Run Deep
“I am a proud dad and husband, a former military intelligence officer, a trial lawyer, a small business owner, a legislator, and just like you all, someone who loves this place and wants the best for Pocatello. That is who I am.”
“I have spent a lifetime dedicated to serving Pocatello, leaving only to attend West Point, serve in the Army, and get my law degree. Even then, Wendy and I always knew we would raise our boys right here.”
Quick facts about James Ruchti
James is a 5th-generation Idahoan and a Pocatello native.
His family members who came before him were farmers, railroaders, small business owners and public employees.
James is a West Point graduate.
He served in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer from 1993-98. During this time, he was stationed overseas in Germany and stateside in Arizona and Georgia. He was also deployed to Kuwait and spent time in Jordan training military intelligence officers.
James is a trial attorney.
He graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2001. He served as the President of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association from 2017-18.
James is a small business owner.
He and his law partner, Joel Beck, own a thriving plaintiffs’ litigation law firm in Pocatello which serves clients throughout eastern and southeastern Idaho.
James previously served in the Idaho House from 2006-10 and again from 2020-22.
He was the Assistant Minority Leader and was part of the legislative leadership team during the 2008 Recession. During his time in the Legislature, he sponsored and passed legislation extending the rights of child sexual abuse victims and consumer protection legislation protecting the elderly and disabled from predatory practices.
James has continued to serve his community.
In 2014, he served as the co-chair of Fair Pocatello to protect LGBTQ community members from discrimination in employment and housing.