Maine native Hartgen fills Idaho House seat

BOISE, Idaho – Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has named Stephen Hartgen of Twin Falls, a business consultant and former newspaper editor and publisher, to complete state Rep. Bert Brackett’s term representing District 23 in the Idaho House.

Brackett, a Rogerson rancher, was appointed July 10 to complete the Idaho Senate term of state Sen. Tom Gannon of Buhl, who died June 24. Hartgen also will take Brackett’s place as the Republican nominee for House seat 23B on the November general election ballot. He was the first choice of three nominees submitted to Gov. Otter by the District 23 Republican Legislative Committee to succeed Brackett.

Hartgen, 63, a native of Maine, has a bachelor’s degree in history from Amherst College in Massachusetts, a master’s degree in American history from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, and a doctorate in American studies from the University of Minnesota. His wife, Linda, is trial court administrator for the 5th Judicial District.