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Democrat Profile: JIM DELMORE
By Jackie Stephens
Jim Delmore was born in St. Louis and grew up there in a solidly Republican family. He received his doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Missouri and settled in Idaho Falls in 1966 to work for what is now the Idaho National Laboratory.
Jim’s love of science has served him well and he is currently one of nine laboratory fellows at INL. Jim has many journal publications, awards and patents, and even though many people his age are long retired Jim is still actively working because, “I love science and feel like I am making a contribution.”
He has managed to cut back his hours but only so he can spend more time doing some of the other things he loves which include woodworking, skiing, hiking, floating the river and spending time with his grandchildren. He has made some gorgeous log furniture and many of his woodworking creations are works of art.
Jim says he abandoned his Republican roots back in the 60’s when he witnessed the inequality of opportunity for blacks and also of rural people. He was impressed that the Democratic Party was willing to sacrifice its hold on the South in order to promote civil rights. He says, “The Republican Party was willing to support racial and economic inequality in order to gain a stronghold in the South and that really irritated me.”
Jim has recently become actively involved in promoting the Democratic Party because he says it is important to him that his children and grandchildren have access to good educations and that they have the same economic opportunities that he has had. He is currently a member of the Bonneville County Central Committee and an avid writer of letters-to-the-editor. He says that the Idaho Republican tax shift of 2007 was something that really motivated him to get involved. He says, “I own two nice homes and I benefited from the tax shift but my children and grandchildren who are less well established than I will end up paying for it. That is something that really gripes me.” Fairness and opportunity are two reasons Jim Delmore is proud to call himself a Democrat. |
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