SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Newly elected Republican Herman Otten said he submitted a letter Friday morning to Gov. Kristi Noem that says he won't take the House seat for District 6. The notice is less than a week from the start of the 2025 session on Jan. 14. SDSU officials: Quick response needed to hire Jackson Otten told KELOLAND News he won't be taking his State House seat for personal and family reasons. Otten will remain a state senator until the new session starts. "Family is far more important than the Legislature," Otten said. Otten, from Tea, has been a lawmaker since 2012 when he was elected to the House. After his original house terms, he was elected to the Senate. Otten will have served in the Senate from 2021 through the start of the 2025 session. He chaired four different committees during the most recent eight of those years: Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources during 2023-24; Senate Local Government in 2021-22; House Local Government 2019-20; and House Agriculture and Natural Resources 2017-18. Otten finished first in a three-way race for two House seats in the November general election. He received 7,216 votes, fellow Republican incumbent Aaron Aylward won the other seat with 6,534 and Democratic challenger Garrett Campbell finished third with 3,546. Otten was unopposed in for Senate re-election in 2022 and defeated Democratic challenger Nancy Kerstein 10,194-5,081 in 2020. The 58-year-old former mayor of Tea was a strong voice for the construction industry and South Dakota sportsmen during the 12 years he spent as a legislator, first winning election to the statehouse in 2012. Otten said one of the highlights of his legislative work was legislation that changed how school district boundaries were designed in the state. He's also proud of the work he did to improve mental health resources and access in the state. When lawmakers have resigned or needed to be replaced Gov. Kristi Noem has selected the replacement. Article 3:10 of the state constitution says “Filling legislative vacancies. The Governor shall make appointments to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the Legislature.” On Jan. 16, Noem replaced Republican Rep. Jess Olson in District 34 with Rep. Becky Drury, who moved from District 32 to District 34. Olson cited health reasons for her resignation. In February, Noem replaced Drury with former legislator Kristin Cozet in District 32. In 2020, Noem replaced a departing lawmaker. Noem has accepted nominations for candidate when lawmaker seats have needed to be filled. "I will probably be throwing out some recommendations," Otten said. One of Otten's upcoming roles in the House was to be the co-chair of the transportation committee. Chris Reder, a Republican who was elected as the House representative in District 1, had announced in November on social media that he planned to on not taking his elected seat. Reder cited health and personal reasons as why he wouldn't join the legislature. Reder is likely to take his role as there has been no formal announcement of his resignation. He has been appointed at least three committee by House leadership. Reder is listed as a member of the military and veterans affairs committee, the transportation committee and the taxation committee. KELOLAND News has requested a copy of the letter from the governor's office and asked what the timetable is for the governor to name Otten's replacement.