This will be my final Friend Report as the State Representative for House District 23. It has been 26 years in the making and I am, frankly, having trouble finding meaningful words, but here it goes!
When I was elected to the legislature in 1992, I was a 43-year-old farmer from Macy, Indiana, with a wife and three children. If naive is an accurate adjective, that was me! I thought my offices in local government had prepared me to serve in state government. I believed that my ideas would be welcomed and easily passed into law. Little did I know that the power of the majority party determined what concepts advanced or died. The learning curve was impressed on me very quickly. I learned that 51 votes to pass your issue only occurs when it is allowed to advance through the process. In 1992, the Republican Caucus was deep in the minority. My issues went nowhere. But, I learned valuable lessons.
There were three primary ways to communicate between legislators and the public: through a letter and the U.S. Postal Service, using a phone (likely a landline) or face to face. Now, technology has made it possible to communicate in many more ways.
For reference, in 1992, bottled water was still relatively new to the market and now it is a staple for many. Cell phones were large, primitive gadgets that only a few people had. Computers were being developed, but most legislation was discussed over reams of paper. Technology has changed processes in all facets of life, and there is no exception for the government.
During my tenure, I've been honored to be elected to leadership by my Republican colleagues. In 2002, the caucus elected me the minority floor leader and later, majority leader, then Speaker Pro Tempore. It was very humbling to be given the responsibility of leading and guiding the caucus as well as the agenda. I took it very seriously and appreciated the opportunity. I have always been a strong advocate for rural Indiana and modern agricultural practices. The continued viability of our small rural schools was and always will be a special concern for me as well.
It took some time, but Indiana moved from a large deficit position and low national rankings, to a healthy budget surplus and leading employment statistics. Almost all our standings have improved dramatically. I have a great deal of satisfaction in being involved in directing positive change. We live in a great state and are in strong positions on many fronts.
It has been a pleasure to serve the state of Indiana by representing House District 23. Memories will be mostly pleasant. I have truly enjoyed helping people with problems involving state or local government. Some I could assist, and some I could not. Nonetheless, I leave office happy, thankful and a believer in our system of government. And, I leave on my own terms. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I am humbled.
As always, it’s your state government, so participate in it!
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State Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
