By Lyle Adriano
Indiana State Rep. (and insurance agent) Matt Lehman has been tapped to assume House Republican leadership following the resignation of previous floor leader, Jud McMillin.
Indiana House Republicans chose Lehman by a private caucus vote. State Rep. Sean Eberhart also ran for the position.
Insiders say Lehman was chosen due to his qualities as a “trusted adviser.”
“Just a person of high integrity, and that’s what we need,” House Speaker Brian Bosma said of Lehman.
First elected to the Indiana House in 2008, Lehman previously served on the Adams County Council. Being an insurance agent helped him land the chairmanship of the Insurance Committee.
Lehman is also a longstanding member of the Insurance Agents of Indiana. The trade association is a lobbying group that represents professionals in the insurance industry.
As Lehman now holds a leadership role, he will no longer serve as the chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Bosma confirmed. Lehman’s experience as an insurance agent has been seen by some as a possible conflict of interest, but Bosma said those concerns are unfounded.
“The key is transparency. The key is disclosure, and the key is to not publicly or privately advocate for something that has a direct, unique, personal impact on you or your business,” Bosma stated.
