Governor's appointee Joe Forney introduces himself to Senate committee; confirmation deferred

BOISE, Idaho — Joe Forney, the governor's nominee for reappointment to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board, appeared before the Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday for an introductory confirmation hearing; the committee did not take a vote and plans to schedule a confirmation vote at a later meeting.

Forney introduced himself as a fifth‑generation Idahoan who attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served as a combat infantry officer and later returned to Boise to run private businesses. He told senators he previously served a term on the Endowment Fund Investment Board and that the governor asked him to serve again.

When asked about the board's operations and market conditions, Forney said the board has "a really nice staff" and identified Callan as the board's primary advisor and manager. He described the board's portfolio as positioned "very conservatively," said the board has beaten inflation targets while acknowledging some foregone returns, and said the board has explored different investment classes with modest allocation changes.

Sen. Den Hartog asked Forney about challenges faced by the board; Sen. Hufti asked an offhand question referencing Lusk Reservoir (the nominee did not provide a figure). Forney thanked the committee for the opportunity; the chair said the committee will vote on the confirmation at a future meeting.

Because no confirmation vote was recorded at this meeting, Forney remains a nominee pending a subsequent committee vote.