Bauer Out, Lawson in as Minority Leader

Lawson has told reporters gathered outside the meeting location that 23 members of the House Democratic caucus attended the session and a majority voted for her as minority leader.

Bauer had come under criticism for his leadership headed into a general election campaign, losses in the 2010 election and the legisalture's passage of right-to-work legislation earlier this year.

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Source: Network Indiana/WIBC, Evansville Courier & Press, WBAA, WISH-TV

Linda Lawson Bio

State Representative Linda Lawson, a graduate of Gavit High School, has been a long-time member of the Hammond community. She attended Indiana University Northwest. She went on to become the first female captain of the Hammond Police Department. Representative Lawson served in numerous capacities over a 24–year period. She worked as a patrol officer and with the sex crimes and domestic violence divisions, where she gained a great deal of knowledge and experience.

Lawson has also served as a member of the Hammond School Board for 12 years.

In 1998, Lawson was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent Indiana House District 1, which encompasses most of Hammond, Munster and parts of Whiting. She has served as the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and on such legislative committees as Environmental Affairs, Courts & Criminal Code, Family Affairs, Education, and Labor. She currently is a member of the following committees: Statutory Committee on Ethics, Judiciary, Public Policy, and the Select Committee on Government Reduction.

Representative Lawson has been involved in many pieces of crucial domestic violence legislation in her career at the State House. She has served on numerous boards such as Haven House, a women's shelter in Lake County, as well as the Boys and Girls Club.

Representative Lawson has two grown daughters and she was married to the late Jim Hornak. Lastly, she is a grandmother, a “job” she considers by far her most important.

Source: IndianaHouseDemocrats.org