Anthon is appointed to the top leadership position in the Idaho Senate

The Idaho Senate will be under new leadership for the first time in four years as State Senator Kelly Anthon was named president pro tempore in Wednesday night’s caucus leadership election.

Anthon, a Republican from Burley, succeeds former Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, R-Boise, who lost to a challenger in his legislative district in the May 21 Republican primary.

Idaho Senate Republicans elected three additional leadership members Wednesday, all of whom will serve in new positions.

Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, will be Senate majority leader. Sen. Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs, is moving from caucus leader to deputy majority leader. Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, will chair the caucus.

In the House, Republican House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, retained their leadership posts, according to a news release issued Wednesday evening by Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa.

Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, was named acting House Majority Leader, replacing former Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay. Crane was named House floor leader, succeeding Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello.

Anthon assumes duties for the Idaho Senate

Anthon was elected the new president pro tempore — or pro tem for short — in Wednesday night’s caucus leadership election, said Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle.

Anthon is expected to be officially installed in his new leadership position during today’s legislative organizational session at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. Wednesday’s caucus elections were held behind closed doors.

The president pro tempore is the ranking member of the Idaho Senate and presides over the Idaho Senate when the state’s lieutenant governor is absent. The president pro tempore is also second in line to succession to the governor, after the lieutenant governor. The President Provisional is also appointed as acting governor when the governor and lieutenant governor are unable to discharge their duties, such as when they are both outside the state.
In general, leadership members in the Idaho Legislature have significant influence over which bills advance and which do not, and which lawmakers serve on which committees.

Anthon, who is beginning his sixth term in the Idaho Legislature, was formerly majority leader in the Idaho Senate – the second-best leadership position behind pro tem. Anthon is a licensed attorney who works professionally as the City Manager for the City of Rupert.

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