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Sen. Shawn Keough’s retirement after a remarkable 11 terms is personally well deserved, but it will deprive District 1 and the state of Idaho of one of the most outstanding legislators in decades.

I had the pleasure of working with Sen. Keough over the years on many issues affecting the forest products industry and the general Idaho business community. Without exception, she represented District 1 with class, conscience, courage and conviction. Her service on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, where she eventually became co-chairman, has had an especially important impact on the state in many ways.

She was an unfortunately too-rare legislator who consistently put solving problems ahead of philosophical “purity.” For her, “getting something done” on an issue was the important thing, even when that progress required realistic compromises.

I wish her and her family the best in her well-deserved political retirement.

STEVE AHRENS

Boise