Becky Skillman

Becky Skillman
49th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013
Governor Mitch Daniels
Preceded by Kathy Davis
Succeeded by Sue Ellspermann
Member of the Indiana Senate
In office
1992–2005
Personal details
Born (1950-09-26) September 26, 1950
Bedford, Indiana
Political party Republican[1]
Spouse(s) Steve Skillman
Alma mater Indiana Wesleyan University
Profession Politician, Economic Development Leader
Religion Church of Christ

Rebecca S. "Becky" Skillman (born September 26, 1950 in Bedford, Indiana) served as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Indiana, from 2005 to 2013. She is a member of the Republican Party. She was sworn in on January 10, 2005.

Early life and career

Skillman is a native of Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana. An alumna of Indiana Wesleyan University, she began her career in politics in 1977 when she was elected to the office of Lawrence County Recorder. Eight years later she was elected as County Clerk. Skillman served as President of the Association of Indiana Counties.

Skillman with Navy Blue Angel #7, Major Nathan Miller, during an appearance on August 23, 2007
Skillman presenting a certificate declaring the Blue Angels as Honorary Hoosiers

State senate

In 1992, after 16 years as an elected official in Lawrence County, Skillman was elected to the Indiana State Senate, where she represented Lawrence, Monroe, Jackson, Washington, and Orange Counties. Rising quickly through the leadership, she became Majority Caucus Chair, the first woman in history to serve in the Senate Republican leadership. During her 12 years in the Senate, she led the charge to include the state's small towns and rural communities in its economic development agenda. There, she authored plans for development in distressed counties and for the revitalization of downtown areas.

Lieutenant governor

Mitch Daniels selected Skillman to be his running mate during the 2004 election. The ticket was elected over incumbent Governor Joe Kernan and incumbent Lieutenant Governor Kathy Davis and she took office in January.

As Indiana's 49th Lt. Governor, Skillman held more legal duties than any other Lt. Governor in the country. Upon taking office in 2005, Skillman also served as the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development under the state's Department of Agriculture and Office of Community Rural Affairs. She managed five state agencies in total, and administered more than $1 billion in programs. Other agencies under Skillman's direction as Lt. Governor included the Office of Energy Development, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, and the Office of Tourism Development. Additionally, she chaired the state's Counter Terrorism and Security Council,the intergovernmental entity responsible for homeland security, and served as President of the Indiana Senate.

Skillman was also responsible for shepherding Governor Mitch Daniels's Administration's legislative agenda through the Indiana General Assembly and served as President of the Senate.

Radius Indiana

Skillman currently serves as President/CEO of Radius Indiana, an eight-county economic development corporation in South Central Indiana, where she assumed her duties in February 2013. She continues to serve as the co-chair of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, with former U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton.

2012 election

Skillman had considered a run for Indiana Governor in 2012 but announced she would not due to a minor medical condition.[2]

Personal life

Skillman and her husband Steve have a son, Aaron. Skillman is a member of the Church of Christ. In August 2010 Skillman earned an associate's degree in business from Indiana Wesleyan University.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Lt. Governor: Previous Lt. Governors". In.gov. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  2. ↑ "Pence for governor? Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman bows out". The Washington Post. 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  3. ↑ "Skillman's valuable example: finish what you started". NWI.com. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2010-11-03.

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Kathy Davis		 Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
2005–2013 		Succeeded by
Sue Ellspermann
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