Vaneta Becker sworn in as Senator
Former state representative Vaneta Becker was sworn into office on Thursday to replace Greg Server as state senator for District 50. Server was appointed a commissioner with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The Evansville Courier & Press carries an article on the subject titled, “Becker becomes newest state senator.” Political insiders have suggested to Indiana Barrister that Becker’s move to the Senate allows a more consistent party line voter to fill her spot in the contentious House, where Republicans hold only a 51-49 advantage. Her moderate voting tendencies are expected to be less disurptive to Republican party goals in the Senate, where Republicans hold a solid 33-17 majority.
GOP precinct committeemen in District 78 will determine her successor until the next regularly scheduled election. Those considered frontrunners are Evansville firefighter Frank Vincent, Alcoa engineer Jonathan Fulton, Vanderburgh County Commissioner Suzanne Crouch, Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce vice president of government relations Steve Schaefer, retired insurance agent Don Mattingly and Warrick County Commissioner Carl Conner. The candidates’ support for city-county unification appears to be one of the most important issues among constituents and commiteemen.
