INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The wife of an Indiana state senator has taken her oath of office as his temporary replacement while he's on military deployment to Afghanistan.
Republican Amanda Banks of Columbia City was sworn in Tuesday to represent northeastern Indiana's Senate District 17 by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush.
She will serve until the return of Jim Banks. He was unopposed for re-election last month and was sworn in for his new term via Skype from Afghanistan, where he's a Navy Reserve supply corps officer. He's expected to return to Indiana in May.
Amanda Banks is a radio host and a former policy analyst for the conservative group Focus on the Family. She was elected by a caucus of precinct committeemen to temporarily fill the Senate seat.
