Stephen Hartgen, a Twin Falls political and business consultant, was sworn into the Idaho Legislature as a District 23 legislator on Saturday by House Speaker Lawerence Denney.

"This is the second or third largest legislative district in the state and I'm honored to have been selected by the governor and the central committee to represent this district in Boise," Hartgen said in front of the Twin Falls County Courthouse.

Saturday's ceremony was a formality after Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter appointed Hartgen in July to complete state Rep. Bert Brackett's term. Brackett, R-Rogerson, had been tapped to finish the term of state Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, who died June 24.

Hartgen said finding money to fix the state's crumbling roads is a top priority, but any new funding avenues should be done over several years and be shared by Idahoans.

"There's no clear solution yet," he said. "There are many ideas and a lot of good ones."

Hartgen was also chosen by the District 23 Republican Committee to take Brackett's place as the GOP nominee for the general election Nov. 4. He faces Democrat Mike Ihler.

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.

Denney was joined by House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, and Reps. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, and Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls.