Vacant Idaho Legislative Seat to Filled in Second Week

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hopes to have outgoing Rep. Mark Patterson's Boise seat filled by the 2014 Legislature's second week. Patterson has been under fire from his own Republican Party after disclosure of his 1974 guilty plea in a rape case and the subsequent revocation of his concealed-weapons permit.

He's submitted his resignation, but made it for midnight Jan. 5, just hours before the 2014 session begins. That means it will start with his District 15 House seat vacant. Leaders from District 15 must submit three names to Otter to replace Patterson.

The Idaho Statesman (http://tinyurl.com/n34fod2) reported Monday they plan to meet around Jan. 9 on the matter. Otter says he's prepared to fill the opening quickly, but through a spokesman said "we're going to do it by the book."