<st1:city w_st=”on”>Indianapolis, Ind. (WOWO): This afternoon, Indiana Republican Party State Chairman Tim Berry issued this statement following news that Representative Phyllis Pond would retire effective October 15:

“Representative Phyllis Pond has been a quiet and effective public servant for the people of Northeast Indiana for over three decades.

“An educator in <st1:placename w_st=”on”>Allen County for 41 years, she brought to the Statehouse the perspective of a kindergarten teacher.  Her tireless work on behalf of her constituents was rewarded every two years with re-election and that seniority ultimately put her in Indiana's history books as the first female legislator to sit in the front row of the House of Representatives.

“Today we honor Representative Phyllis Pond and thank her for years of service to her county, state and nation.

Chairman <st1:place w_st=”on”>Berry also announced that, “In accordance with state law and party rules I will officially call a caucus to fill Representative Pond's seat in the coming weeks.”