Otter To Seek Fourth Term In Office

Republican Lt. Gov. Butch Otter announced his candidacy Thursday for an unprecedented fourth term, touting the growth of Idaho’s economy during his 12-year tenure and proposing a bigger role for his office.

The former international business executive for J.R. Simplot Co. has no opponent for re-election from either party yet.

So Otter, 55, focused his announcement on goals for a fourth term in the part-time job that pays $22,500 a year.

They include working for a constitutional amendment that would allow candidates of the same party to run for governor and lieutenant governor on a single ticket, the way presidents and vice presidents are elected.

While he enjoyed his two terms under Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus, Otter said, the past three years under Batt have been much better.

“The lieutenant governor’s job can be so much more effective,” he said, “if they’re both from the same party.”

Otter also has won Batt’s endorsement for his plan to identify Idaho residents living in 138 different countries worldwide to become “Idaho Ambassadors” who would spread the word about the state and its products.

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