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Cass County Councilwoman Replaces Head In State Senate

Cass County Councilwoman Stacey Donato is the newest member of the Indiana Senate.
Cass County Councilwoman Stacey Donato is the newest member of the Indiana Senate.

Cass County Councilwoman Stacey Donato is the newest member of the Indiana General Assembly.

Donato was elected Monday night by a Republican precinct caucus.

Former State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) served more than two terms before announcing his resignation earlier this year to become the chief deputy prosecutor in Pulaski County. That triggered a GOP precinct caucus to replace him – and after five ballots, Donato was its winner.

Donato is a two-term councilwoman in Cass County and an accountant. Head backed her in the caucus.

Donato becomes the fifth state lawmaker elected by a private caucus since last year’s election. Thirty-two current members of the legislature – more than one out of every five – first joined the General Assembly via precinct caucuses.

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Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.