Even though he’s challenging him in the GOP primary, Gov. Butch Otter said today that he’ll still welcome Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, to legislative leadership meetings in his office during this year’s session. Otter said both he and Fulcher have the interests of the people of the state at heart. “I think we will work in that direction,” he said. “I have reason to believe that the Senate and all their leadership team will work to that direction as well.”

Otter said it’s “entirely up to Sen. Fulcher” whether he continues to attend leadership meetings in Otter’s office. “I have no reason to change the membership,” he said. “The Senate has decided who that leadership team is, and I’m going to welcome that team into my office.”