Kathy Davis

Katherine L. Davis (born June 24, 1956) was the 49th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, and the first woman to serve in that office. She was appointed by Governor Joe Kernan and unanimously confirmed by the Indiana General Assembly in October 2003. Davis was nominated for the position by Kernan who became governor following the death of Governor Frank O'Bannon on September 13, 2003, and elevation of Kernan to the Governor's office.

Davis was born June 24, 1956, in Boston, Massachusetts and earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1978 as well as a masters degree from Harvard Business School in 1982.

Before serving as lieutenant governor, she was the Controller for the City of Indianapolis. She also is a former executive with Cummins Engine Co., of Columbus, Indiana. She previously served as State Budget Director, Secretary of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) and Deputy Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation. As head of the FSSA, the state's largest agency, she carefully directed the state's transition away from large facilities for MRDD and MI populations to more community-based facilities. In her role as lieutenant governor, she served as President of the Indiana State Senate, Commissioner of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce and chaired the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council.

Political speculation

Since leaving office in 2005, Davis has been subject to speculation regarding future political pursuits. In 2006, her name was mentioned as a potential challenger to incumbent Republican Richard Lugar in the United States Senate. However, the Democratic party did not field a candidate to challenge Lugar. She had also been mentioned as a possible candidate in the 2008 Indiana gubernatorial election to challenge incumbent Mitch Daniels, who defeated Kernan in the 2004 election.