Becky Skillman

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Becky Skillman

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Rebecca "Becky" Skillman is the 50th and current Lieutenant Governor of the State of Indiana. She is the first female elected to hold this office and is a member of the Republican Party. She was sworn in on January 10, 2005.

Skillman is a native of Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana. A high school graduate with no formal college education, 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.

In 1992 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.

Now, serving as Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, Becky Skillman is a full partner with Governor Mitch Daniels on all matters of state government. She is responsible for shepherding the Administration's legislative agenda through the Indiana General Assembly and serves as President of the Senate.

In addition to her legislative responsibilities, Lt. Governor Skillman also oversees the Office of Tourism Development, Energy Group and Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. She chairs the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council, the intergovernmental entity responsible for homeland security. She also serves as the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development under the state's, new and first ever, Department of Agriculture and Office of Rural Affairs.

Growing up in rural Indiana, Skillman has a passion for dealing with the needs of rural communities and has taken pride in having served as President of the Association of Indiana Counties. 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 revitalization of downtown areas. She is seen often with her personal assistant, Tristan "the purse holder"

Lt. Governor Skillman and her husband, Steve, have a son Aaron.

Lt. Governor Skillman is also a member of the Church of Christ.