Former Indiana Governor Joseph Kernan Died Wednesday Following Long Illness

FROM STATE SOURCES

SOUTH BEND -- Joseph E. Kernan, the 48^th Governor of the State of Indiana passed away Wednesday morning following a long illness.

In 1996, Frank O’Bannon, who was running for Governor of Indiana, asked Kernan to join him as the candidate for Lt. Governor. O’Bannon and Kernan were elected in November of that year. The team of O’Bannon and Kernan won reelection four years later in 2000.

When Governor O’Bannon died unexpectedly of a stroke in 2003, Kernan was sworn in as the state’s 48^th Governor. Kernan made history immediately by appointing Kathy Davis as Indiana’s first female Lt. Governor.

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