Three names have been forwarded to the governor to replace Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, who resigned from the Senate to move to Seattle. Atop the list, submitted by the legislative District 18 Democratic central committee: Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, who now represents the same district in the House. Listed second was Lawrence Crowley, president and director of the Energy Strategies Group, and third, Elizabeth “Beth” Oppenheimer, executive director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.

If Otter selects Ward-Engelking, a similar process would then be followed to fill her House seat.