Malloy: Otter goes, if Trump calls

Gov. Butch Otter talks about a lot of things when he meets with news reporters before the start of a legislative session.

Generally, reporters ask probing questions and Otter – an old pro at these gatherings – gives good answers. That certainly was the case last Friday at an event sponsored by the Associated Press.

But it took a while to get to the elephant in the room, and the most important part of the news conference – his future employment with the state of Idaho.

The governor is openly looking for another job, with hopes of going to work for Pres.-elect Donald Trump. Otter says he still wants to be governor, but there’s a longer-term future with a Trump administration.

If it were up to Otter, he’d be Trump’s designee for Interior Secretary and probably a shoo-in to gain confirmation.

Otter did not get the Interior appointment, or come as close to getting it as Congressman Raul Labrador, who had an interview with the big man himself at Trump Tower. But Otter’s job hunting is far from over. His second choice, which remains an outside possibility, is Agriculture Secretary/ Chuck Malloy , Idaho Politics Weekly. More here.