The Idaho Democratic Party announced Tuesday that state party chairman Larry Kenck will resign as of May 29 due to health issues.

Kenck, of Post Falls, has served as the state party leader since 2013.

Vice Chair Jeanne Buell, of Worley, will serve as acting chair until June 13 when the state central committee votes for a new chair. The new chair will serve the remainder of Kenck's term, which ends 2017.

Because of national Democratic Party rules, if the party has a male chair, then the party must have a female vice chair - or conversely, a female chair requires a male vice chair. So, the new chair will be a male. Buell will head the search for Kenck's replacement.

In his resignation letter emailed to party members on May 23, Kenck wrote that the party needs a chairman who can focus his energy on being chairman:

"... Sadly, health issues have come up that I must deal with. The path we are on requires an active Chairman that is not dealing with these issues. There is too much work and too many duties that need to be done, now. That is why I must resign my position as Party Chair. No regrets - and no sadness. What we have started is only the beginning and will continue on under the talented leaders within the Party."

Buell said Kenck has been "a true friend to Idaho Democrats" and has helped lead the party through a time of growth.

"I know that our party has a lot of talent out there and that we will find a chairman who shares Larry's vision of a better, balanced Idaho," Buell said.