Whoops, not THAT seat

At the organizational session of the Legislature today, members got the chance to pick the seats in the chambers that they’ll occupy for the next two years. Seat-picking goes in order of seniority, so new Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, was among the last to pick. He wandered right over to a prime aisle seat near the door, which apparently wasn’t yet occupied – but Hart couldn’t see the nameplate in front of the desk that identified the seat as that of House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley.

Amid laughter, Newcomb intoned from the podium, “Fine with me.” Realizing his mistake, Hart wandered into the well of the House, looking uncertainly around for a space. “There’s some over here – there’s one right there,” Newcomb pointed out to him, helpfully.

Hart found a seat that actually was open. Later, he said ruefully, “I knew it was his, but I forgot.”