Longtime Sen. Dean Cameron’s departure from the Idaho Senate to become the new state insurance chief has prompted an array of Magic Valley Republicans to express interest in being appointed to Cameron’s seat, reports Nathan Brown of the Twin Falls Times-News. Among those expressing interest: Rupert City Administrator Kelly Anthon; Clay Handy, a former Cassia County commissioner and owner of a trucking company; John Stokes, who co-owns several grocery stores; Wayne Hurst, a farmer from Burley and former president of the National Association of Wheat Growers; Wayne Schenk, a farmer from Rupert; Bruce Burtenshaw, the former owner of Kodiak America; Harold Mohlman, of Rupert, who unsuccessfully challenged Cameron in 2010 in the primary; and Charlie Creason of Rupert, who was president and CEO of Project Mutual Telephone for 23 years.

Brown reports that Doug Pickett, a rancher and Cassia County GOP chairman who ran for the seat in 2012 and for the state Republican chairmanship last year, also is weighing whether to apply. The GOP committee for the legislative district is scheduled to meet Friday night to recommend three nominees for the post to Gov. Butch Otter; Brown’s full report is online here.