When the Idaho Legislature convenes in January, it’ll have just one committee chairman from North Idaho – new House Business Committee Chairman Vito Barbieri of Dalton Gardens. “I look forward to the opportunity of serving in this capacity, that’s for sure,” Barbieri said after he was named to the post during the Legislature’s organizational session on Thursday. “I’m going to address it seriously.”

Barbieri, a third-term lawmaker, succeeds fellow Republican Rep. Frank Henderson of Post Falls, the former House Business Committee chairman, who retired. But the two other legislative committee chairmanships held by North Idaho lawmakers – longtime Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, and House Ways & Means Chairman Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake – both went to southern Idahoans. Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, is the new Senate Education committee chairman. Goedde was defeated in the GOP primary this year, while Anderson retired. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.