Change is the order for ECI Statehouse delegation

INDIANAPOLIS -- East Central Indiana lawmakers were busy trading places in the Indiana House, while newly elected Sen. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, was scoping out her new office in the Statehouse.

"Lots of people came to welcome me," said Errington, who had lunch with Sen. Richard Young, D-Millville, the Democratic floor leader, and other Senate Democrats. "I am getting used to being called senator."

Errington won't be officially sworn in until organization day on Nov. 21, but was assigned an office on the fourth floor of the Statehouse and a parking space.

On Tuesday, Errington rolled to a big victory over Republican Andrew Phipps, taking 53 percent of the vote, defeating Phipps by more than 3,600 votes. Independent Pat L. Smith drew 1,267 votes.

Errington succeeds seven-term incumbent Sen. Allie Craycraft, D-Selma. And her election helped maintain a 33-17 majority held by Republicans, keeping the GOP from gaining a "super majority" that would no longer require Democratic participation to conduct Senate business.

Senate Republicans nominated their new leader Wednesday, Sen. David Long, R-Fort Wayne, who will be elected President Pro Tem on organization day.

Long replaces Robert Garton of Columbus, who served as Senate leader for 26 years but lost in last May's primary. A former Fort Wayne City Council member, Long served in the Senate 10 years and chaired corrections, criminal law and civil matters and joint rules committees.

Sen. David Ford, R-Hartford City, said Long was never afraid to take on issues and is a new generation leader that wants to employ more technology to make the Senate more accessible to the public.

"I don't see a lot of change right away," said Ford. "(Long) will look at keeping things consistent."

Ford, who was unopposed in Tuesday's election, did get a new leadership position, assistant majority floor leader-technology, who will be charged with expanding communications for the Senate. He also chairs the Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee.

In the House, Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, who has been House Minority Leader, caucused Wednesday with fellow Democrats, who now hold a 51-49 majority over Republicans. Bauer is expected to succeed House Majority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, who will return to the minority after a two-year run.

The political change also means that Reps. Dennis Tyler, D-Muncie, and Phil Pflum, D-New Castle, will trade places with Reps. Bill Davis, R-Portland; Jack Lutz, R-Anderson; Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, and Tim Harris, R-Marion.

"It feels good," Tyler said about being in the majority.

Tyler won by nearly a 2-1 margin over Republican Adrian Leavell and Libertarian Carrie Dillard-Trammel to retain the House District 34 seat.

Tyler had been optimistic Democrats would take back the House after two years of one-party rule by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and a Republican-controlled Legislature.

Democrats talked about more equitable funding of public schools, taking care of the state's infrastructure and raising the minimum wage, Tyler said.

Bauer has also talked about having a referendum on Daylight Saving Time, although Tyler said there was no discussion of rescinding DST.

Davis, who served on the House Ways and Means Committee, said moving from majority to minority would not change his conservative views.

"I felt all along that we would be in the majority," said Davis, whose party will caucus today. "Moving this state forward is so important that we cannot let it stop now."

Davis defeated former lawmaker Ron Liggett, a Democrat, to win re-election to the House District 33 seat that represents Jay and portions of Delaware and Randolph counties.

Lutz will give up his chairmanship of the House Utilities and Energy Committee as Democrats take the majority. The veteran lawmaker beat Democrat Lee Ann Mengelt for re-election to the House District 35 seat.

Lutz has served both in the majority and minority and knows Bauer's leadership well.

"I accept (Bauer's) word that he is willing to work with the governor," Lutz said. "It's been more than 30 years since the Statehouse had a Democratic House, a Republican Senate and a Republican governor."

Contact news reporter Rick Yencer at 213-5833.