Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Michelle Stennett to the Idaho Senate seat vacated by her husband Clint's recent death; Stennett had been filling in for her husband as he battled brain cancer, and is now running for the seat in her own right. Otter said he was making the appointment for the remainder of Clint Stennett's term "with sadness at her husband’s loss but great confidence in her abilities;" you can click below to read his full announcement. Michelle Stennett was the unanimous top choice of the Idaho Democratic Party's District 25 legislative committee to succeed her husband in the post.

C.L. “Butch” Otter
GOVERNOR

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                
October 26, 2010                                                                                         
 
GOVERNOR OTTER APPOINTS MICHELLE STENNETT TO COMPLETE CURRENT SENATE TERM      

            (BOISE) – With sadness at her husband’s loss but great confidence in her abilities, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter today announced the appointment of Michelle Stennett of Ketchum to fill the Idaho Senate vacancy for District 25 left by the October 14th death of her husband, Senator Clint Stennett.

          “I called Michelle on Monday to let her know I was making the appointment, consistent with the wishes of the Democrat legislative committee for District 25 and I’m sure what the people of that district and all of Idaho would want,” Governor Otter said. “Clint set a very high standard as a citizen legislator, as a friend, and as a statesman in the finest sense of the word. Michelle ably lives up to that standard. As Senator Bert Brackett said, ‘She hasn’t been a placeholder. She’s been a full senator and has done the job remarkably well.’”

          Mrs. Stennett stood in for Senator Clint Stennett for the entire 2010 session of the Idaho Legislature while he underwent treatment for brain cancer. Just as importantly, she was a full partner with her husband throughout his 16 years in the Senate.

          Mrs. Stennett was the unanimous first choice among three candidates whose names were submitted to Governor Otter by the District 25 Democrat legislative committee. She is running to retain the seat in her own right in the November 2nd election.                                  

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