House Republicans Tuesday elected a new majority leader, one of the highest ranking positions in the caucus.
The move came after Rep. Jud McMillin resigned from the position last week amid a sex scandal.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, admitted the last week has been a tough one for the Republican caucus after McMillin abruptly resigned, but he says electing Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, a seven-year veteran of the General Assembly, to floor leader brings stability to the caucus.
"He seeks to find solutions; he's not a flashy person and that's what our caucus needs right now," he says.
Bosma notes that Lehman is a calm, measured presence – and Lehman says that won't change with his new role.
"I am who I am," Lehman says. "I'm from the little, small town of Berne, Indiana. And probably not a lot comes out of Berne, Indiana, but I do."
The caucus only needed one round of votes to elect Lehman as the new floor leader; Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, was the other candidate.