Senate pauses to remember Susan Bennion
The Senate paused today to remember and honor Susan Bennion, a longtime key legislative staffer who was employed by the legislative branch from 1968 to 2005. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said Bennion, a noted redistricting expert, was "one of those people, those quiet people, who has left a lasting legacy on the state of Idaho." Today would have been her 66th birthday, Davis said; she died recently of cancer. Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, called Bennion "a master of the English language," and said her skills as a grammarian served the Legislature well. Said Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise. said, "She was one of the most talented people I've ever worked with. ... We'll miss her."
"She wrote over 10,000 pieces of legislation," Davis said. "And we as a state have been blessed by her kind and gracious nature, spirit and service. And so today we wanted, on the floor of the Idaho State Senate, to recognize and remember her." Bennion is survived by her husband David, two children and a grandchild.