Press release from Indiana Democratic Caucus
Members
of the Indiana House Democratic caucus met today in Lafayette to address
leadership issues within the party. The caucus ended with a vote to
appoint Linda Lawson, D- Hammond, as the new leader of the House Democrats,
replacing Pat Bauer, D- South Bend. Bauer has held the leadership
position since 2002.
"The
majority of our members have spoken," said Lawson, who has served as floor
leader for the past two years. "We met, discussed, and decided to take
steps to move our party forward, including making a change in our
leadership. After serving Indiana House District 1 since 1998, I'm
honored to be placed in this position at such a critical time for our party."
Lawson
is a 24-year veteran of the Hammond Police Department, becoming the first
female captain to serve the department after working as a patrol officer and a
member of the sex crimes and domestic violence divisions. The knowledge
and experience she gained in those capacities has helped influence much of the
legislation she has championed. Lawson currently serves on several
committees of the Indiana House of Representatives, including: Statutory
Committee on Ethics, Select Committee on Government Reduction, and Public
Policy.
Lawson
attended Indiana University, and is very active in her hometown community of
Hammond. She serves on numerous boards and committees in Lake County,
including the Woman's Bureau, the Humane Society, the Historical Society, and
the Boys & Girls Club, to name a few.
"Pat
has done many positive things over the course of his leadership term, doing a
great job of securing funding for schools and leading efforts to assist many of
the underprivileged and underserved around the state," said Lawson. "I
don't want to take anything away from his successes, but when the members of
our caucus look for leadership, they have decided to go in a different, more
positive direction."
