In a brief ceremony before a small audience of family, close friends and some staffers, Gov. Butch Otter took the oath of office today for his second term. The oath was administered by U.S. District Judge Ed Lodge, left; at right is First Lady Lori Otter. Among the onlookers was Otter's mother, Regina Otter. "I appreciate all of my family being here, my extended family and some of my staff," Otter said after taking the oath. "Thank you very much. This is a great day for me and Miss Lori, and for our family and the state of Idaho. So thank you all so much for coming."

Incidentally, in the formal oath, Otter used both his initials, which stand for Clement Leroy, and the nickname by which he's known, so it sounded like this: "I, C.L. Butch Otter, solemnly swear..." Today's ceremony will be followed up by the formal inauguration ceremony and inaugural address on the steps of the state Capitol on Friday at noon; the public is invited. There's also the formal public Inaugural Ball on Saturday at 8 p.m., for which tickets are on sale at $20 apiece.

Those are the nonpartisan inaugural events. In addition, Otter's campaign will be hosting additional events; a committee chaired by three prominent lobbyists is drumming up sponsorships for those. On Friday at 10 a.m., an inaugural mass and prayer service will be held at St. John's Cathedral, 775 N. 8th St.; the public is welcome and there is no charge. On Friday night, the governor and first lady will host a gala concert at the Knitting Factory with country singer Jo Dee Messina; tickets are $35. On Saturday, they'll host a formal dinner at the Stueckle Sky Center at BSU from 4-7 p.m. with tickets costing $500 per person and also including admittance to the Inaugural Ball and the "Black Tie and Boots Ball," which will be later that same evening at BSU's Jordan Ballroom and feature music from the Kelly Hughes Band. Tickets for the "Black Tie and Boots Ball" alone are $30 a head. There's more info at the governor's campaign website, otterforidaho.com.