Former legislator David Langhorst, a Boise Democrat, has been named to the State Tax Commission.

Langhorst will join a commission that has drawn some scrutiny from an in-house whistleblower and from some legislators, who have questioned the group's settlements with companies that have protested their tax bills.

This strikes me as a good pick by Gov. Butch Otter, considering Langhorst's six years of legislative experience and level-headed service on the Senate's Local Government and Taxation Committee. And it's a logical political career move for Langhorst, who most recently ran for Ada County commissioner, losing in November.

Here's the press release from Otter:

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter today named David Langhorst of Boise, a former member of both the Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate, to fill one of two seats reserved for Democrats on the four-member Idaho Tax Commission.

Langhorst succeeds Colleen Grant of Fruitland, whose term expired. He will serve a six-year term.

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to Colleen for her years of dedicated service to the people of Idaho. At the same time, I’m very pleased to be able to add someone of David’s background and ability to the Commission,” Governor Otter said. “He understands the Commission’s role and responsibilities, having served on a germane oversight committee in the Legislature. And just as importantly, David understands the critical relationship of trust that must exist between the Commission and Idaho taxpayers for its work to be accomplished.”

Langhorst, 50, rose to assistant minority leader during two terms representing District 16 in the Idaho Senate through 2008, during which he was a member of the Local Government and Taxation Committee and served on two interim committees on tax policy. He previously served one term in the Idaho House.

The Minnesota native, educated in Alabama and with a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, most recently was a real estate appraiser. Langhorst previously owned and operated a small marketing firm in Boise. He and his wife, Christine, have two children and three grandchildren.

“I look forward to putting my business and legislative experience to work for the state,” Langhorst said. “During my years in the Legislature I found that the Tax Commission employees are top notch. I look forward to working with them to achieve and maintain a fair, predictable and stable tax system for the people of Idaho.”

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