Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was released from a Boise hospital Wednesday to continue resting at his home. The governor was admitted to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center on Monday suffering from flu-like symptoms and dehydration.
“This is a good sign and it shows that he’s on the mend,” said Jon Hanian, Otter's spokesman. “He’s out of the hospital but he’s still recovering.” Hanian said the governor's office is monitoring his health day-by-day and said it's uncertain when he will resume his official duties and campaigning schedule. Otter has a state cabinet meeting set for Thursday morning.
During his hospital stay, Otter didn't hand over the reins of state government to Lt. Gov. Brad Little, according to Hanian. “Brad Little stepped in for him at a couple of events, but the governor was still in charge,” Hanian said. Little took the governor's place during an awards ceremony for science teachers on Monday. The lieutenant governor assumes the governor's position whenever the governor leaves Idaho or is incapacitated, including if the governor undergoes surgery that requires anesthesia. Little signed legislation last month when Otter traveled to Utah for a a Republican Governors Association meeting.