Payette Senator Resigns To Become Batt Aide

State Sen. Mary Hartung, R-Payette, will resign from the Legislature to join the staff of Gov. Phil Batt as a special assistant.

The governor’s office said Thursday Hartung will start work May 1. She will become the sixth Republican elected in November to the Idaho Legislature to resign to become part of Batt’s staff and administration.

“Mary’s extensive legislative background on the issues that she will deal with in my office make her extremely qualified to serve in this position,” the governor said.

Hartung, who is assistant majority leader in the Senate, will serve as policy advisor to the governor, focusing on agriculture, commerce, lands and tax issues. She will also serve as Batt’s legislative liaison during the legislative session.

Hartung is in her fourth term in the Idaho Senate. Before that, she served three years in the House.

Hartung is an insurance agent for Three Rivers Insurance Agency and has owned and operated several businesses in the Payette area in the last 30 years.