During Wednesday night’s caucus leadership elections, state senator Kelly Anthon was elected president pro tempore, marking the first time in four years that the Idaho Senate will have new leadership.
Burley Republican Anthon replaces outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, R-Boise, who lost the May 21 Republican primary to a candidate in his legislative district.
Three additional leadership members were elected by Republicans in the Idaho Senate on Wednesday, and they will all take on new roles.
- Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian
- Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs
- Senate caucus chairperson: Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d Alene
Republican House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, both kept their leadership positions in the Idaho House of Representatives, Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa, said in a news release Wednesday evening.
Sage Dixon, a Republican from Ponderay, was replaced as House assistant majority leader by Rep. Josh Tanner, a Republican from Eagle. Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, was replaced by Crane as the chairman of the House caucus.
Anthon assumes the duties of the Senate of Idaho.
Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, announced that Anthon was chosen as the new president pro tempore, or pro tem, in Wednesday night’s caucus leadership elections.
At today’s organizational session of the Idaho Legislature, which will take place at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Anthon is anticipated to be formally installed in his new leadership role. The caucus elections were held in secret on Wednesday.
When the state’s lieutenant governor is not present, the president pro tem, who is the Senate’s highest ranking member, leads the Idaho Senate. In addition, the president pro tempore is the governor’s second-in-line successor, behind the lieutenant governor. When the governor and lieutenant governor are unable to carry out their duties, such as when they are both out of state, the president pro tem is also called upon to function as governor.Generally speaking, the Idaho Legislature’s leadership has significant control over which measures advance and which do not, as well as which lawmakers are assigned to which committees.
Prior to starting his sixth term in the Idaho Legislature, Anthon was the majority leader of the Idaho Senate, which is the second-highest ranking leadership position after the pro tem. Anthon is a certified lawyer who serves as the municipality of Rupert’s official city administrator.
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