Gov. Butch Otter is in Hawaii for the annual conference of the Independent Voter Project, a California-based group; while he’s gone, Lt. Gov. Brad Little is acting governor, and at today’s Land Board meeting, Secretary of State Lawerence Denney is presiding.

The Independent Voter Project, which backs open primary elections and pushed for California's open primary, is headed by former California lawmaker J. Stephen Peace, who also was the producer and co-writer of the "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" films, in which he appeared as Lt. Wilbur Finletter. The San Diego-based organization says its goal is "championing the independent minded voter and stimulating the public dialogue," and it considers itself an "idea factory" and a "public policy venture capital fund."

Otter also spoke at the group’s “Business and Leader Exchange” conference in Maui in 2011.

The group reported today that the opening day of its 2016 “Business and Leadership Policy Conference, an annual event with legislators, industry professionals and policy experts,” kicked off Monday with Otter and Kevin Klowden, executive director of the Milken Institute’s California Center, as featured speakers. Both addressed the economy, with Otter focusing on the importance of education. “Education should be the number one priority of every state,” Otter told the group.

Denney said it was his first time chairing a state Land Board meeting. "It's pretty much like presiding over any other meeting - I've had a little background," said Denney, former speaker of the Idaho House. "It was OK."