Brownsburg town council head named new state auditor

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence announced Thursday that the president of the Brownsburg Town Council will serve as the new state auditor.

Pence praised Dwayne Sawyer's experience in local government and Republican Party politics at a Statehouse news conference.

Sawyer replaces Tim Berry, who was elected auditor in 2006 and again in 2010. Pence picked Berry to run the Indiana Republican Party earlier this summer and Berry has served in both roles until this week. He stepped down as auditor Tuesday to run the party full time.

"Dwayne's professional background, experience in public service, strong character, and involvement with the Republican Party make him the best choice to serve as auditor for the people of Indiana," Pence said.

Sawyer was picked from a long list of candidates, including a state representative, a top aide in the state pension system and others, to fill the 17 months left in Berry's term.

"This is truly a very monumental opportunity to serve the entire Hoosier state, and all my fellow Hoosiers," Sawyer said.

Pence's pick effectively blocks Treasurer Richard Mourdock from making the same transition Berry did seven years ago, from the treasurer's office to the auditor's. Mourdock and Berry were both term-limited from seeking re-election to their respective offices next fall.

The governor's announcement completes a bit of shuffling triggered earlier this summer, when former party Chairman Eric Holcomb announced he was leaving, along with a number of other top party officials who had worked closely with former Gov. Mitch Daniels. Holcomb took a job running U.S. Sen. Dan Coats' office.

Sawyer is to be sworn in Monday. Pence had appointed Sawyer this year to serve on the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males.

Duties of the auditor's office include accounting for state revenue, and spending and making tax revenue distributions to local governments.