It’s hard to imagine Sen. John McGee’s resignation coming at a worse time for Canyon County Republicans.

Precinct chairs from District 10 will have to meet within 10 days to recommend three candidates to Gov. Butch Otter to replace McGee in the middle of the legislative session and only days before the state's first presidential caucus.

District 10 Rep. Gayle Batt, R-Wilder, said she hopes McGee’s replacement can hit the ground running.

“We just need to focus on the process for filling the position,” Batt said Wednesday after McGee resigned.

McGee serves as the Canyon County Republican Central Committee’s chairman. Canyon County State Committeeman Todd Lakey said Central Committee members will have to decide what to do about McGee’s position in their organization.

“We have to see what facts there are and how John approaches it and what the Central Committee wants to do,” Lakey said.

Former Nampa representative Steve Kren is county vice chairman.

District 13 Chairwoman Ronalee Linsenmann pushed for McGee to step down as county chairman last year after McGee’s DUI arrest.

“So many people ... had questions about the first incident. This will give closure,” Linsenmann said. “It does reaffirm that what you do in your personal life does make a difference in what you do in your public life.”

Linsenmann stressed that the sexual harassment allegations are just that, allegations.

Meanwhile Batt said her “heart aches for (McGee’s) family.”

Sen. Les Bock, D-Boise, expressed surprise at McGee’s resignation, but said the Senate would push past McGee’s resignation.

“You always have to remember these are allegations,” he said. “We know things like this do reflect on the Senate, (but this is) a fine group of people.”