Idaho Gov. Butch Otter says he'll appoint the state's lieutenant governor on Tuesday - that's the same day that current Lt. Gov. Jim Risch will be sworn in as a U.S. senator and resign the state post - and Otter has named names of 16 people he's talked to about the job. It's not a complete list - there is an equal number of possibles whom Otter either hasn't talked with yet or who didn't want their names released. But the list is an interesting one that includes three North Idaho candidates, an array of folks from around the state, and two who've withdrawn from consideration but were still willing to have the news get out that the guv talked to them about the post.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

State Rep. Scott Bedke, R-Oakley; Sen Dean Cameron, R-Rupert; Brad Egbert, a Rexburg businessman recommended by Sen. Jeff Siddoway; Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs; state Ag Director Celia Gould (withdrawn); longtime Otter pal and current state Department of Administration chief Mike Gwartney; former state Rep. Dean Haagenson, R-Coeur d'Alene; Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake; Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; Sen. Brad Little, R-Emmett; Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston; Lloyd Mahaffey, an Eagle businessman with a high-tech background; Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell; Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star; Twin Falls car dealer Con Paulos (withdrawn); and former state Sen. Sheila Sorensen, R-Boise.

Mark Warbis, Otter's communications director, said the governor hasn't yet made his pick, but will make it by Tuesday. "He's still in the process of discussing it with other people," Warbis said. Otter has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Boise to make the announcement.

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