Biography:

Born in Caldwell, Idaho, Butch Otter was the sixth of nine children born to Roman Catholic parents who sent him primarily to parochial schools.

He studied for the priesthood for three semesters at St. Martin's Abby in Olympia, Wash., and later attended what then was Boise Junior College before eventually receiving his bachelor of arts degree in political science from the College of Idaho, now Albertson College of Idaho, in Caldwell.

Otter served in the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Armored Cavalry from 1968 to 1973 and attended Armored Intelligence and Reconnaissance School at Fort Knox, Ky., in 1968.

Otter, who lives on a ranch west of Boise, is a former president of Simplot International Inc. and former director of Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He has a sizable interest in Western Capital Associates and is involved in a number of partnerships and Subchapter S corporations. He has a small stake in the Piper Pub & Grill, a downtown Boise restaurant and bar.

He was lieutenant governor for 14 years before being elected to Congress. Otter has four grown children and one grandson. He is divorced from the former Gay Simplot, daughter of Boise billionaire J.R. Simplot. During their marriage he rose within the J.R. Simplot Co. to lead its extensive overseas operations.

Past Campaigns:

Butch Otter was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1972 and reelected in 1974. He finished third in a six-way GOP primary race for governor in 1978 and considered but decided against running for the 1st District seat in Congress in 1980 when then-U.S. Rep. Steve Symms _ a close personal friend _ ran for the U.S. Senate.

He was elected lieutenant governor in 1986, narrowly defeating then-state Treasurer Marjorie Ruth Moon.

He was reelected easily in 1990, 1994, 1998.

In 2000 won the congressional seat. Otter was elected to the House that year with 65 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2002 with nearly 59 percent.

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