PAUL TO HOST MAY ‘CAPITAL FOR A DAY’

(BOISE) – Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced today that the Minidoka County community of Paul will be Idaho’s “Capital for a Day” on Wednesday, May 20th.
 
The first-come, first-served open opportunity to meet with the Governor, selected members of his Cabinet, and other senior state officials is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Paul City Hall/West End Fire Department, located at 152 South 600 West in Paul.  The Governor also will join Mayor Randy Jones, other state and local leaders, and community members for a barbeque lunch hosted by the West End firemen at noon at the same location.  Donations will be accepted and proceeds will benefit the new Paul City Park.
 
Officials joining Governor Otter at Capital for a Day will include Bill Deal, director of the Department of Insurance; Wayne Wright, chairman of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission; Allen Merritt, manager of the southern regional office of the Department of Water Resources; Bill Allred, regional administrator for the Department of Environmental Quality; Tim Duffner, South Central Supervisory Area supervisor for the Idaho Department of Lands; Mark Fleming with the Magic Valley Region office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game; Devin Rigby, District 4 Engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department; Dick Schultz, deputy director for Health Services for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; John Hathaway, Health and Welfare’s regional director; Margie Gonzalez, executive director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs; Mark Browning, communication director for the Office of the State Board of Education; Captain Ked Wills of the Idaho State Police; and Brent Tolman and Chris Orders with the Idaho Department of Labor.
 
“With the great progress we’re making on water issues – especially a recent agreement ending years of conflict over the Swan Falls water rights settlement, and moving forward on the Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan – I thought the time was right to visit a place where folks really understand what’s at stake. The Mini-Cassia area is at the very heart of the Eastern Snake Plain. This is an area that relies on and respects our precious water resources and the stewardship that’s required to protect them,” Governor Otter said.
 
“This also is an area that’s home to a real concentration of civic virtue – people who are willing and extraordinarily able to put themselves forward in public service for other Idahoans. Paul and Minidoka County are in District 26, which is home to both co-chairs of the Legislature’s budget-writing committee and the chairman of the House Resources and Conservation Committee. You don’t get better represented than that!”