State Sen. Doug Eckerty will not seek re-election

MUNCIE, Ind. – State Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, will not seek re-election next year.

"Serving my constituents of Madison, Delaware and Henry counties for the past seven years has been both a rewarding and humbling experience,” Eckerty said in a news release. “I look forward to spending more time with my family, including my wife, children and grandchildren, one of whom was recently born.”

Eckerty has represented Senate District 26 since 2010, which encompasses parts of Delaware, Henry and Madison counties.

During his tenure in the General Assembly, Eckerty has been a champion of workforce development efforts. In 2016, he authored legislation with State Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, that requires the Department of Workforce Development to conduct a 10-year employment projection and use that data to inform high school and college level vocational programs.

This year, he authored legislation that expanded access to the Indiana Career Explorer tool for eighth-grade students. The law also increased per-student funding for career and technical education courses connected to high-wage, high-demand industries, and created the Workforce Ready Grant for adult students.

Eckerty also assisted in crafting the state’s budget, and in 2016 authored a bill that protects seniors and individuals with disabilities from financial exploitation.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) lauded Eckerty’s service to Indiana.

“Doug has been a hardworking advocate on behalf of his constituents from his first day here in the Senate,” Long said in a news release. “Not one to seek the spotlight, Doug has been a valuable member of our team, working behind the scenes on many important issues facing our state."

Eckerty will complete his term, which expires in November 2018.