Senate State Affairs hears multiple gubernatorial nominees; committee advances two to Senate floor

The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee heard presentations from multiple gubernatorial nominees on Jan. 17 and voted to send at least two appointments to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation.

Major General Timothy J. Donnellan, nominated to be Adjutant General of the Idaho Military Division, told the committee he would prioritize training and readiness for Idaho National Guard soldiers, airmen and state employees if confirmed. Donnellan, who summarized 32 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and Idaho, said the Guard must remain “man, trained, and equipped” for both federal and state missions and called for collaboration with other state agencies on disaster response and related functions.

The committee also heard from Scott Madison, a recently retired Intermountain Gas executive nominated to the Idaho Energy Resource Authority. Madison said he expects the authority to see more activity as regional electric demand grows, citing data centers and Micron’s expansion as drivers of future generation needs. He said small modular nuclear reactors are a possible source of base load power and urged that lifecycle economic and environmental costs be considered when evaluating generation options.

Thomas Mello, nominated to the State Building Authority, described his background in municipal real estate and public finance and said he would focus on state infrastructure and school facility planning. Patricia (Patty) Perkins, reappointed to the Treasurer’s Investment Advisory Board and introduced as director of the Department of Finance, said the board meets quarterly and that the treasurer’s office manages investments “in a safe and sound manner.”

Andrew Rulanandam appeared twice as the governor’s nominee first for the State Liquor Division and then for the Idaho Lottery Division. He said both agencies face revenue headwinds, cited declines in liquor and lottery sales, and described plans to improve data systems and operations at the Liquor Division. On the lottery, he said sales dipped nationwide and that Mega Millions’ decision to raise ticket prices to $5 is a concern for state lottery revenue.

Committee procedural actions included a motion by Senator Harris, seconded by Senator Hartog, to advance the gubernatorial appointment of George Lynch to the Idaho Energy Resource Authority to the Senate floor with a recommendation that he be confirmed; the motion carried. The committee also advanced the gubernatorial reappointment of Thomas Wilford to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board with a recommendation for confirmation.

No formal confirmation votes were recorded in committee for several other nominees; the chair said some nominees need not be present for the floor vote and that most remaining confirmations will be considered on the next committee agenda.

Votes at a glance: - George Lynch, gubernatorial appointment to Idaho Energy Resource Authority — motion to send to Senate floor with recommendation for confirmation carried (mover: Senator Harris; second: Senator Dan Hartog). Specific roll-call tally not specified in transcript. - Thomas Wilford, gubernatorial reappointment to Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board — motion to send to Senate floor with recommendation for confirmation carried (mover: Senator Berndt; second: unspecified). Specific roll-call tally not specified in transcript.

The committee recessed to take additional agenda items; the chair said several nominees would be voted on at the committee’s next meeting.