BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Board of Correction has appointed Kevin Kempf as the new director of prisons one week after his predecessor, Brent Reinke, gave his resignation notice.

The board made the appointment during a special meeting Wednesday, but the choice wasn't a surprise. Kempf has been with the department for 19 years and has served as the deputy director since 2013. That position was created by the board after Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he wanted all of his state agencies to have a succession plan in place in case of an unexpected departure. Kempf's salary will be $140,000 a year.

He said he didn't anticipate making any big changes at the department, and expected to spend the next year focusing on Justice Reinvestment legislation and the state's recent takeover of a prison formerly run by Corrections Corporation of America.

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