Two Indiana farmers are among the five members appointed this week by Indiana Governor Mike Braun to serve on a new commission to recommend how Indiana could redraw its state lines to include counties from Illinois.
The Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission was created after Indiana’s lawmakers learned that more than 30 Illinois counties have been exploring options to secede from their state. House Enrolled Act 1008, which established the commission, was written by Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers). The bill was passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Braun on May 1.
The Indiana farmers who have been appointed to serve on the new board are Don Lehe from White County and Clay Andrews from Warren County.
The new members named to the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission:
- Clay Andrews (Sixth generation farmer, Warren County Commissioner)
- Don Lehe (Former State Representative, White County cattle producer)
- Ray McCammon (Sullivan County Commissioner)
- Greg Newman (Kemper CPA Group – Posey County)
- Jeff Papa (Chief Legal Counsel for the Indiana State Senate – Boone County)
Under the U.S. Constitution, any change to state borders would require the approvals of both the Indiana and Illinois state legislatures, as well as Congress.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is a Democrat, had previously said that the succession of Illinois counties to Indiana was “not going to happen.”
The Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission is required to hold its first meeting by December 1.
