Described by friends as a gentleman and go-to government expert, writes Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence, longtime Lewiston lawmaker Mike Mitchell died in Boise on Friday. He was 91.

Mitchell spent nearly 40 years in public service in Idaho, spanning the executive and legislative branches. His resume included three terms in the House, six terms in the Senate and four years as chief of staff for Gov. Cecil Andrus. He also served on the Idaho Transportation Board, State Board of Education and as interim director of the state Department of Correction.

“He probably has more nuts-and-bolts experience in the broad range of government than any other person I know,” Andrus said in 1991, on the occasion of Mitchell’s first “retirement” from public service. “The guy who does the nitty-gritty and the hard work is Mike Mitchell. Always has been.”

Mitchell’s 1991 retirement only lasted about a year. He went on to serve on the state Board of Education and Transportation Board, and as interim director of the Idaho Department of Correction. In 2002, he was again elected to the Idaho House, defeating four-term GOP incumbent Frank Bruneel, and served until 2006. You can read Spence’s full report here.