Stephen Hartgen

Stephen Anthony Hartgen (September 30, 1944 – December 31, 2021) was an American politician who was a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, serving from 2008 to 2018. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Stephen Hartgen
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
In office July 2008 – November 30, 2018
Preceded by	Bert Brackett
Succeeded by	Linda Wright Hartgen
Constituency	23rd district Seat B (2008–2012) 24th district Seat B (2012–2018)
Personal details
Born	Stephen Anthony Hartgen (1944-09-30)September 30, 1944 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	December 31, 2021(2021-12-31) (aged 77) Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Linda Gardner ​ (m. 1992)​
Relations	Vincent Hartgen (father)
Residence	Twin Falls, Idaho
Alma mater	Amherst College Brandeis University University of Minnesota
Profession	Business consultant
Website	stephenhartgen.com

Personal life and death

Hartgen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 30, 1944, as the son of artist and University of Maine professor Vincent Hartgen. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from Amherst College, his master's in American history from Brandeis University, and his doctorate in American history from the University of Minnesota.^[1]

He died on December 31, 2021, at the age of 77.^[2]

Career

Hartgen was a business consultant and a former editor and publisher of the Times-News.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2008, after the death of Senator Tom Gannon, the Legislative District 23 Republican Central Committee met to fill the vacancy in the Idaho Senate seat and replace Gannon's name on the upcoming general election ballot. The committee selected then-Representative Bert Brackett of Rogerson 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.^[3] Otter appointed Brackett to serve the remainder of Gannon's term.^[4] The committee met again to fill the vacancy in the Idaho House of Representatives from Brackett's appointment to the Senate and replace Brackett's name for representative on the upcoming general election ballot. The committee selected Hartgen to replace Brackett's name on the ballot for Representative and sent three names in order of preference to Otter to fill the vacancy: Hartgen, former Representative Gene Winchester, of Homedale, and Doran Parkins, of Marsing.^[5] Otter appointed Hartgen to serve the remainder of Brackett's term in the House.^[6]

Committee assignments

• Commerce and Human Resources Committee (chairman)
• Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee
• Revenue and Taxation Committee

Hartgen previously served on the Education Committee from 2008 to 2012.

Elections

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

Year	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct
2008 General[7]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	9,951	64.8%	Mike Ihler	5,413	35.2%
2010 Primary[8]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	3,881	100%
2010 General[9]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	7,496	68.4%	Bill Chisholm	3,465	31.6%

District 24 House Seat B - Part of Twin Falls County

Year	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct
2012 Primary[10]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	2,932	100%
2012 General[11]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	9,202	59.9%	Rosemary Fornshell	6,164	40.1%
2014 Primary[12]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	2,699	100%
2014 General[13]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	5,587	53.5%	Catherine Talkington	4,850	46.5%
2016 Primary[14]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	2,103	59.0%	Mary Bello	1,462	41.0%
2016 General[15]	Stephen Hartgen (incumbent)	10,161	61.3%	Catherine Talkington	6,422	38.7%