Coeur d’Alene pastor who survived shooting replaces expelled legislator

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has appointed a Coeur d’Alene pastor who survived a 2016 shooting to replace a state representative who was expelled from the state legislature earlier this month after he was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Federal government.

Tim Remington has worked in drug recovery in North Idaho for decades and is the pastor of Altar Church in Coeur d’Alene. He also is known for surviving six gunshot wounds to the head and chest in 2016, when a man attacked him in the church parking lot. Remington was shot the day after he prayed with 2016 presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

Kyle Odom, a marine veteran who had studied biochemistry at the the University of Idaho, was sentenced to more than 10 years for the shooting. He said he believed that Remington was an alien who possessed people.

When Odom was sentenced in 2017, Remington admitted that the shooting had impacted all aspects of his life and that he still was in pain, but said he still forgave his shooter.

Little chose Remington from three candidates chosen by a Legislative Committee representing Legislative District 2B.

“Pastor Remington’s experience will bring a valuable perspective to the Idaho Legislature,” Little said. “I greatly appreciate all of the District 2 applicants for their willingness to serve in this position.”

Remington’s term begins Tuesday and will continue until the next general election.

“I’m a preacher and will stay a preacher,” Remington said in a news release Tuesday. “What an honor to serve this state.”

Remington replaces John Green, who was convicted of defraud the federal government in Texas after he helped a couple avoid paying federal income taxes by letting them deposit the proceeds from selling gold coins into his bank account. Green had won in a landslide election in 2018 and was expelled earlier this month.

It was the first time in recent memory that an Idaho legislator had been expelled.

Remington is a Coeur d’Alene High School graduate who previously pastored in Loma Linda, California, according to the Altar Church website. He and his wife also previously owned a coffee shop called “Supreme Bean” in California, and have four children.

Remington appeared at the Inland Northwest Freedom Fest in Sandpoint last fall, alongside abortion “abolitionist” Dan Fisher and anti-islamic pastor Shahram Hadian. That event, which has long been connected to militia movements, was also promoted online by Washington state Rep. Matt Shea, who was recently kicked out of the Washington House GOP caucus after he was accused of domestic terrorism.

The other candidates included Tim Kastning, an arborcultural consultant with a history in the lawn and garden care industry from Rathdrum. Kastning was Green’s temporary replacement in the Idaho legislature. Donald Bradway, a safety management consultant with ties to the construction industry from Hayden, Idaho, was also nominated to replace Green.