Bert Brackett

Bert Brackett
Member of the Idaho Senate from the 23rd district
In office July 2008 – December 1, 2020
Preceded by	Tom Gannon
Succeeded by	Christy Zito
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives from district 23, seat B
In office November 2005 – July 2008
Preceded by	Douglas Jones
Succeeded by	Stephen Hartgen
Personal details
Born	(1944-10-17) October 17, 1944 (age 80) Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Paula
Education	University of Idaho (BS)
Profession	Rancher
Military service
Branch/service	Idaho National Guard

Noy Elbert "Bert" Brackett III (born October 17, 1944) is an American politician who served as a member of the Idaho Senate for the 23rd district from 2008 to 2020.[1]

Early life and education

Bert Brackett was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1944. Brackett received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture at the University of Idaho in 1966.

Career

Brackett served one term in the Idaho House of Representatives. In 2008, Brackett was elected to represent Idaho's 23rd Legislative district, which includes Twin Falls.[2]

Brackett is a rancher at Flat Creek Ranch.[3] He has also served for the Idaho National Guard. [2]

Idaho House of Representatives

In October 2005, when long-time incumbent Representative Douglas Jones resigned to take a job out of state, the Legislative District 23 Republican Central Committee met to fill the vacancy in the House seat. The committee sent three names in order of preference to Governor Dirk Kempthorne to fill the vacancy: Brackett, Benny Blick of Castleford, and Jim Patrick of Filer. Governor Otter appointed Brackett to serve the remainder of Gannon's term.[4]

Committees

Brackett served on the Agricultural Affairs Committee and Education Committee in 2006, the Appropriations Committee and Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee from 2007 to 2008, Energy, Environment, and Technology in 2008, and the Resources and Conservation Committee from 2006 to 2008.

Idaho Senate

In July 2008, after the death of Senator Tom Gannon, the Legislative District 23 Republican Central Committee met to fill the vacancy in the Senate seat and replace Gannon's name on the upcoming general election ballot. The committee selected Representative Brackett to replace Gannon's name on the ballot and sent three names in order of preference to Governor Butch Otter to fill the vacancy: Brackett, Hartgen, and Jeanne Gannon of Buhl, the widow of Senator Gannon.[5] Governor Otter appointed Brackett to serve the remainder of Gannon's term.[6]

After redistricting, incumbent Senators Brackett and Tim Corder, of Mountain Home, were drawn into the same district and faced off in the Republican primary in 2012. Brackett was endorsed by Governor Otter and won the nomination.[7]

Committees

• Transportation Committee (chairman)
• Resources and Environment Committee (vice chairman)

Brackett previously served on the Finance Committee and Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee from 2009 to 2012 and on the Agriculture Affairs 2013 to 2016.

Personal life

Brackett and his wife, Paula, have five children.

Elections

District 23 House Seat B - Owyhee and part of Twin Falls County

Year		Candidate	Votes	Pct		Candidate	Votes	Pct
2006 general[8]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	9,357	100%
2008 primary[9]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	3,343	100%

District 23 Senate - Owyhee County and part of Twin Falls County

Year		Candidate	Votes	Pct		Candidate	Votes	Pct
2008 general[10]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	10,550	66.5%		Bill Chisholm	5,312	33.5%
2010 primary[11]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	4,056	100%
2010 general[12]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	9,689	100%

District 23 Senate - Elmore and Owyhee Counties and part of Twin Falls County

Year		Candidate	Votes	Pct		Candidate	Votes	Pct
2012 primary[13]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	3,009	57.4%		Tim Corder (incumbent)	2,230	42.6%
2012 general[14]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	9,177	68.8%		Bill Chisholm	4,165	31.2%
2014 primary[15]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	3,573	100%
2014 general[16]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	8,022	100%
2016 primary[17]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	4,052	100%
2016 general[18]		Bert Brackett (incumbent)	12,422	100%

References

1. Idaho State Legislature – Senate Membership Archived 2016-06-13 at the Wayback Machine. Legislature.idaho.gov (2004-07-29). Retrieved on 2013-04-20.
2. Senator Bert Brackett Biography – Project Vote Smart. Votesmart.org (1944-10-17). Retrieved on 2013-04-20.
3. Senator Bert Brackett – Biography Archived 2016-08-13 at the Wayback Machine. Vote-ID.org. Retrieved on 2013-04-20.
4. "Brackett to fill Jones' spot at Legislature". The Prairie Star. November 25, 2005. Retrieved March 29, 2017.^[permanent dead link‍]
5. Hopkins, Jared (July 11, 2008). "Brackett top pick for Gannon's empty seat". The Prairie Star. Retrieved March 29, 2017.^[permanent dead link‍]
6. Hopkins, Jared (July 9, 2008). "Otter picks Brackett to replace Gannon". The Times-News. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
7. Davlin, Melissa (May 16, 2012). "Brackett Tops Corder in Race of Senate Incumbents". The Times-News. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
8. Ysursa, Ben. "November 7, 2006 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
9. Ysursa, Ben. "May 27, 2008 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
10. Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
11. Ysursa, Ben. "May 25, 2010 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
12. Ysursa, Ben. "November 2, 2010 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
13. Ysursa, Ben. "May 15, 2012 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
14. Ysursa, Ben. "November 6, 2012 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
15. Ysursa, Ben. "May 20, 2014 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
16. Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2014 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
17. Denney, Lawerence. "May 17, 2016 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
18. Denney, Lawerence. "Nov 8, 2016 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.