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Effective Thursday, Jan. 2, I will become the new Auditor of the State of Indiana.While I look forward to beginning this new chapter in my life, I cannot help but feel a little nostalgic thinking back on the last eight years as your state representative.
The General Assembly made great strides for Southern Indiana during my years in office. I had a hand in the passage of Major Moves , an initiative launched in late 2005 to improve and expand our state’s highways and infrastructure. With this additional funding came the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis project, which will help commerce in our community continue to grow and thrive.
Language in the budget for funding of the IU School of Medicine in Evansville, more full-time faculty at the University of Southern Indiana and preschool opportunities to ensure that we have a well-educated future workforce are just a few of the successes I am most proud of in recent years.
Along with legislative accomplishments, the relationships formed during my time at the House will be the memories I cherish most. Representatives on both sides of the aisle became lifelong friends, and I am a better person for knowing them.
Before becoming your state representative, I served eight years as Vanderburgh County auditor and two and a half years as County Commissioner. These experiences in local government and as the Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee give me a background that will be beneficial in ensuring that our state continues to operate effectively and efficiently.
In my new role as Auditor, I will continue working with the General Assembly along with local and state officials and agencies. A few of my duties will be keeping the state’s general ledger, administering the state employee payroll, paying state vendors and contractors and administering pensions. My office is also an important connection between local governments across Indiana and our state government. Governor Pence explained a portion of my role by saying that the Auditor of State “…in a very real sense serves as a mentor, a trainer, a sounding board, an educator, a problem solver for both county auditors, and to some extent, county treasurers around the State of Indiana.â€
I cannot thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to serve you over the last eight years. The knowledge and experience I gained as your representative would never have been possible in any other position in the state. In every situation I did my best to accurately and honestly convey your voice at the Statehouse and to stand up for policy representing the best interests of our community.
Please continue to reach out to my office. Your new representative will serve our district with pride and honor.
I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas, and I wish you a Happy New Year! |
