Idaho has another new state senator, as Gov. Butch Otter today appointed Soda Springs rancher Mark Harris to the Senate to replace former Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, who is now head of the state Department of Environmental Quality. Otter picked Harris from a list of three nominees submitted by the legislative District 323 GOP central committee; the other nominees were Larry Oja and Scott Workman.

“Mark brings with him some valuable experiences gained while working in Idaho agriculture and serving on various voluntary boards and committees,” Otter said. “While he has some big shoes to fill, I am quite confident that Sen. Harris will live up to those expectations.”

He is a trustee at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and serves on the Bear Lake County Planning and Zoning Committee. He holds a political science degree from Utah State University and is fluent in Spanish. He’ll serve out Tippets’ term, which runs for another year; all state lawmakers, in both the House and Senate, serve two-year terms.

Harris previously served on Otter's campaign team as a regional co-chair during the 2014 election, according to the Associated Press; he also sits on the Idaho Republican Party's executive committee. In 2011, the governor chose Tippets over Harris to fill the same Senate seat.

The appointment follows last month’s appointment of Rupert city administrator Kelly Anthon to the Senate to replace longtime Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, whom Otter tapped to head his state Department of Insurance. And in March, Otter appointed Boise City Council President Maryanne Jordan to the Senate to replace Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, whom Otter appointed to the state Tax Commission.