Senate confirms three gubernatorial appointees, holds several others for one legislative day

BOISE — The Idaho Senate on Tuesday adopted committee reports and confirmed three gubernatorial appointments: Kirk Nelson to the offender management board, Kurt Liebeck to the State Board of Education, and Thomas Mello to the State Building Authority. Other nominations were held on the calendar for one legislative day or referred to committees.

Senator Van Orden opened the floor discussion for Kirk Nelson’s confirmation, describing Nelson’s background with the Pocatello Police Department and work on polygraph testing for offenders. Van Orden said Nelson had been certified by the board for about 20 years and “had done 60,000 polygraph tests,” and argued that Nelson’s experience would help expand treatment models and reduce recidivism in offender populations. Following brief debate, the Senate adopted the committee report by voice vote: “The ayes have it. The report's been adopted,” the presiding officer said.

Senator Woodward introduced the committee report for Kurt Liebeck’s appointment to the State Board of Education, outlining Liebeck’s private-sector career in the forest-products industry, graduate study at Harvard, and more than two decades of volunteer service in education organizations. “I think that Mr. Liebeck has provided great service and a stable and wise leadership,” Woodward said. The Senate adopted that committee report on final consideration.

Senator Birch presented Thomas Mello’s nomination to the State Building Authority, noting Mello’s Boise High School roots, a finance and real estate degree from Villanova, study at the London School of Economics, and experience in capital markets and commercial real-estate transactions. “I believe that Mr. Mello is highly qualified for this role,” Birch said. The Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointment.

Several other gubernatorial appointments were placed on the calendar or referred to committees rather than confirmed immediately. Committee reports and floor requests show the Senate agreed to hold the nominations for Brent Baker and Mark Brinkmeyer for one legislative day; referred BJ Stenger’s appointment to the Health and Welfare Committee; and referred committee reports for appointments including Andrew Arulalandam (Idaho Lottery Commission/state liquor division) and others to the 10th order and held for one legislative day.

The confirmations were recorded as adopted by the Senate; the transcript records the committee reports being adopted with the presiding officer saying “The ayes have it,” but it does not provide a numerical roll-call tally for those confirmations in the floor transcript.

What the appointments cover

- Offender Management Board (Kirk Nelson): The committee report indicates a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027; sponsor emphasized experience with polygraph testing and offender treatment programs. - State Board of Education (Kurt Liebeck): The committee report indicates a term expiring July 1, 2029; sponsor cited business leadership and years of volunteer service in education organizations. - State Building Authority (Thomas Mello): The committee report indicates a term expiring Jan. 1, 2029; sponsor cited finance and commercial real-estate experience.

Other floor business included routine committee referrals, first-reading of multiple bills, and announcements. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.