At least two Magic Valley legislators are now officially on the list of candidates to replace Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, a representative of Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

State Sen. Dean Cameron and Rep. Scott Bedke are among the new faces on a list of more than 30 potential appointees Otter plans to interview to fill the part-time post. Bedke is assistant majority leader in the House.

Otter said he expects to make the announcement at a press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday - after Risch is sworn in to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Larry Craig.

Names on the list already mentioned include state Sens. Robert Geddes, Brad Little and John McGee, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle.

Otter spokesman Mark Warbis said other legislators Otter is considering include Sens. Patti Anne Lodge, Shawn Keough and Mike Jorgenson. Non-legislators include Mike Gwartney, Otter's Department of Administration director; former U.S. House candidate Sheila Sorenson; and Eagle, Idaho businessman C. Lloyd Mahaffey.

Reached Tuesday afternoon, Bedke said he had received a call from Otter's office asking if they could add him to the list, but that he had not yet interviewed with the governor. He said his inclusion is "flattering," but that he just plans on business as usual until he sees who Otter appoints.

"I'm just going to proceed and get ready for the legislative session from my perspective in the House," Bedke said.

Cameron said he had already talked to Otter and was honored to be considered. A co-chairman of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, he noted that several other area legislators are part of that group, making it possibly easier to leave than it was several years ago.

Six legislators from south-central Idaho now serve on JFAC, including Cameron's counterpart, Rep. Maxine Bell.

"It's kind of a humbling and yet flattering recognition," Cameron said of his inclusion on the list. "(Otter) fortunately has a lot of good choices to choose from."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.