Richard D. Young is a Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 member of the Indiana Senate

Indiana Senate

The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...

.

Early career

Before his tenure in the Senate Young was Crawford County Auditor. He was also Secretary of the Crawford County Democrat Central Committee from 1986 to 1988.

Senate

Young has represented the 47th District since his appointment to succeed newly elected Lieutenant governor Frank O'Bannon

Frank O'Bannon

Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...

 in 1988. His district includes parts of Crawford, Dubois, Harrison, Perry, Spencer, Warrick and Washington Counties.

He has won election to the Senate in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010.

He was the Democratic leader of the state senate from 1996 to 2008, but he stepped down to explore a run for Governor of Indiana. Since 2008 Young has been Minority Leader Pro Tempore. Young is also a co-founder and member of the Rural Caucus. Young serves as Ranking Democrat on the Agriculture and Natural Resources and Local Government committees.

Committees

Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters, Member

Local Government, Ranking Minority Member

Subcommittee on Civil Matters, Member

Utilities and Technology, Member

Race for Governor

He ran for 2008 Democrat primary for Governor of Indiana

Governor of Indiana

The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...

 but dropped out early on in the primary and chose not to endorse a candidate in the primary between architect Jim Schellinger

Jim Schellinger

Jim Schellinger is the active President of CSO Architects in Indianapolis, Indiana. On March 19, 2007, he filed his candidacy to run for governor against incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels but lost to fellow Democratic challenger Jill Long Thompson by 13,000 votes - less than 1 percent.- Early...

, and winner, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson.

Personal

He and his first wife, the late Elaine Young, had five children. He is currently married to Ashira.

External links

• State Senator Richard D. Young official Indiana State Legislature site

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