Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick has tabbed Dick Rush to be the new Idaho director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, and Wally Hedrick to be state director of the USDA Rural Development Agency. Minnick held an open application process and had a committee chaired by former GOP House Speaker Bruce Newcomb review the applicants. “Our open application process resulted in an outstanding pool of interested, qualified Idahoans for these two positions,” Minnick said. “I am deeply appreciative of the citizen committee members who worked together to review the applicants and help me make these recommendations. I’m also appreciative of my fellow members of the Idaho delegation for their insight into Idaho’s past and future needs for these two positions.”

Minnick, as the top-ranking Democrat in Idaho, gets to make the recommendations to President Barack Obama. “I was honored to be asked by Congressman Minnick to help with selection process,” Newcomb said. “He made good choices, and our committee was honored to serve this state in helping this process move forward.” Minnick said his recommendations to the president for the new U.S. Marshal and U.S. Attorney for Idaho will be announced next week.

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