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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Otter wraps up 53-minute speech, gets extended ovation

Gov. Butch Otter is applauded at his final State of the State address on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at the Idaho state Capitol in Boise. (AP / Otto Kitsinger)
Gov. Butch Otter is applauded at his final State of the State address on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at the Idaho state Capitol in Boise. (AP / Otto Kitsinger)

Gov. Butch Otter’s final State of the State address ran roughly 53 minutes; he was interrupted more than a dozen times by applause, including an extended standing ovation at the end of his speech.

He also was ribbed a bit by a lawmaker who began clapping when Otter said “In conclusion,” prompting Otter to laugh and ask, “Was it that long?” He also noted that he’s still got 11 months-plus left as governor.

He said serving as Idaho’s governor has “been the honor of my lifetime, and the best job I ever had.”



Betsy Z. Russell

Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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