Lt. Governor Becky Skillman understands the needs
of Indiana – from our small cities and towns
to our large, urban areas. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman
has long been committed to revitalizing Indiana's
economy for the good of all Hoosiers. A native of
southern Indiana, Becky knows the importance of
bringing economic development to all regions of
the state. She is a long-standing champion of Indiana
communities and has led the way in rebuilding our
state's small cities and towns.
Becky's values of hard work, faith and family were
shaped growing up outside of Bedford, where most of
her family still lives. In 1969, Becky married her
high school sweetheart, Steve. Ten years later
their son Aaron was born.
In 1977, Becky answered the call of public service
and was elected Lawrence County Recorder, a seat
she held until 1984 when she went on to win the
contest for County Clerk. While in this position,
she was elected by her fellow county officials statewide
to serve as president of the Association of Indiana
Counties. There, she worked with the Indiana General
Assembly, which inspired her to run for Senate in
1992. She went on to serve 12 years representing
Indiana's 44th Senate district. Becky's ability
to bring people together on important issues earned
her the respect of politicians from both sides of
the aisle and helped her attain the leadership position
of Senate Majority Caucus Chair.
In 2004 Becky joined Mitch Daniels in his
bid to become Governor. Together, they sought to
renew Indiana's economy and move the state forward.
Upon election Becky became the state's 50th lieutenant
governor.
Throughout her career, Becky has worked on behalf
of the business community. In her hometown of Bedford,
she served on the Board of the Bedford Urban Enterprise
Association and on the Board of Directors of the
Bedford Federal Savings Bank. She completed two
years toward a degree in Business Administration
at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Becky has spent her career fostering economic
development, particularly through entrepreneurship
and small business development. In recognition of
her efforts, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored
her as the Champion of Small Business in 1995. The
National Federation of Independent Business/Indiana
named Becky a Guardian of Small Business in 1996.
In 2007, the Indiana Minority Business Magazine
gave her the Champion of Diversity Award.
Living in the shadow of Crane
Navy Base, Becky developed an understanding
of the important role the defense sector
plays in Indiana's economy. In 2005
Becky successfully made the state's
case to maintain its military bases through
the federal Base Realignment and Closure
process. As a result, more than 5,500 jobs
were saved and 1,000 new jobs were created.
Under the leadership of Gov. Daniels and Lt. Gov.
Skillman, Indiana has seen unprecedented progress.
Though they inherited a $600 million deficit, they
honestly balanced the budget in one year, putting
Indiana back in the black—without increasing
taxes. They began to revitalize Indiana's
economy, creating the Indiana Economic Development
Corporation, which has brought tens of thousands
of jobs and billions of dollars in new investment
to the state. Gov. Daniels and Lt. Gov. Skillman
have implemented key changes that will improve the
lives of all Hoosiers. They worked to upgrade the
state's transportation infrastructure, giving
Indiana the nation's only fully-funded 10-year
transportation plan. In addition, they have funded
full-day kindergarten, provided long overdue benefits
to veterans and service members, and reformed the
state's property tax system.
Governor Daniels and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman
are well prepared to represent the people of Indiana
for four more years.