Senate hopes to replace Durst quickly

Senate President Professional Tem Brent Hill hopes a substitute for Sen. Branden Durst will be confirmed just before the legislative session convenes Jan. six.

Sen. Branden Durst

Durst, D-Boise, announced his intention to resign to party and state officials on Tuesday. The Idaho Democratic Celebration announced Durst’s resignation Wednesday afternoon.

“Branden stated his resignation is successful Dec. 1,” Hill explained. “That does not suggest they have to have it accomplished by then, but certainly we want to have it completed by the time the session begins.”

Hill, a Republican from Rexburg, is acting governor even though Gov. Butch Otter is out of the nation and Lt. Gov. Brad Little is out of state.

Durst’s resignation will generate a vacancy on the nine-member Senate Schooling Committee. Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, is the only other Democrat on the committee.

Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, mentioned Durst’s successor would be permitted to take Durst’s Schooling Committee spot.

Sen. John Goedde

“I am assuming that whoever the Democrats’ appointee is will carry on with (Sen. Durst’s) committee assignments, but that will be their purview,” Goedde said. “It’s going to be a active training session, and whoever will get appointed to that place will be drinking from the fire hose.”

If Democrats do not want Durst’s successor on the Training Committee, Hill explained he will let party leaders to advise yet another Democrat for the seat.

Democratic leaders outlined ideas for Durst’s succession on in an on the web post Wednesday.

• Durst’s replacement should reside within District 18, and intend to seek re-election in 2014, when all 105 legislative seats are up for grabs.


• The Democrats will convene a candidate recruitment committee.


• That committee will interview candidates and suggest three to five finalists within 11 days.


• The District 18 Democratic Central Committee will interview finalist candidates within 13 days.


• The Central Committee will send a list of ultimate recommendations to Otter within 15 days.

Based on how the Thanksgiving vacation and weekends element into the Democrats’ timetable, a roster of 3 candidates to be successful Durst will probably be just before Otter by mid-December.

Otter will then appoint Durst’s successor. Otter’s appointment is final and does not need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Hill said he will not get any action as acting governor and will defer to Otter on his return to Idaho. Otter’s official routine signifies he will return to Idaho on Nov. 24.

Sen. Brent Hill

But Hill did say he would support in any way he can to get Durst’s replacement named ahead of the session commences.

“It helps to have the whole group there when we get commenced (with the session) and make sure everybody is aware of what’s going on,” Hill mentioned. “It’s also important for his district to be represented in the Idaho State Senate.”

Efforts to attain Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, for comment were not quickly successful Wednesday afternoon.

Durst was elected to the Senate in 2012. He served two Property terms among 2006 and 2010.

On Sept. 6, KTVB reported Durst was living out of his district component-time and splitting time amongst the Seattle region and his Boise district.

Senate hopes to replace Durst quickly