Suzanne Crouch

Suzanne Crouch (born February 27, 1952) is an American politician who serves as the 52nd lieutenant governor of Indiana, since January 2017. She previously served as the 56th state Auditor of Indiana.

Suzanne Crouch
52nd Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2017
Governor	Eric Holcomb
Preceded by	Eric Holcomb
56th Auditor of Indiana
In office January 2, 2014 – January 9, 2017
Governor	Mike Pence
Preceded by	Erin Sheridan (Acting)
Succeeded by	Tera Klutz
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 78th district
In office October 16, 2005 – January 1, 2014
Preceded by	Vaneta Becker
Succeeded by	Holli Sullivan
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1952 Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Larry Downs
Children	1
Education	Purdue University (BA)

A member of the Republican Party, Crouch formerly served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2005 to 2014. On December 15, 2013, she was appointed by Governor Mike Pence to serve as the 56th State Auditor of Indiana. Crouch was re-elected to that position in 2014. She resigned as State Auditor following her election as Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in 2016.

Early life

Crouch graduated from Mater Dei High School in Evansville[1] and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, majoring in political science. Prior to her service in local government, Suzanne served as Vanderburgh County Republican Central Committee Chairman for four years. Under her chairmanship, a majority of Republicans were elected to County Council, the first time in 60 years that Republicans controlled that body.

County Government

County Auditor

Crouch was elected Vanderburgh County Auditor in 1994. During her two terms as Auditor, she established a reputation of fighting for government efficiency, responsiveness, accountability and accessibility. As Auditor, her office received, for the first time in decades, a clean bill of health every year from the State Board of Accounts.

Vanderburgh County Commissioner

In 2002, Suzanne was elected to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and served as President until the end of her term in 2005. She worked to televise weekly Commission meetings and by holding public hearings to seek the public's input on important issues. While serving as president, the Commissioners, for the first time ever, applied and received federal transportation dollars for a local road project.

Indiana State Representative

In 2005 the district 78 seat for state representative was vacated by Vaneta Becker, who had moved to the State Senate to fill the vacated seat of Greg Server. House District 78 contains parts of Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. Portions of Evansville, as well as Newburgh, Richland, Hatfield, Darmstadt and McCutchanville are within the borders of the district. Crouch was elected to fill the position in a caucus by precinct committeemen. She was appointed Vice Chairman of Public Health Committee in the state legislature. Crouch was challenged in the 2006 republican primary by conservative activist Jonathan Fulton but easily defeated him winning 63% of the vote.

Indiana State Auditor

After the resignation of Indiana State Auditor Dwayne Sawyer in 2013, Crouch was appointed to fill the position.[2] In 2014, after the completion of Sawyer's term, the Republican Party of Indiana officially nominated Crouch to stand in that year's elections. On November 4, Crouch was elected with a 23 percent margin against Democratic Party candidate Mike Claytor, winning 59.6 percent of the vote.[3]

Lieutenant Governor

2016 election

After Mike Pence, the Governor of Indiana, was named Donald Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election, Pence had to withdraw from the gubernatorial election. Eric Holcomb, the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, was chosen as the Republican Party's new nominee for Governor, and Crouch was chosen as the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor.[4]

Electoral history

Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District Republican Primary Election, 2006
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch (inc.)	4,032	62.68
Republican	Jonathan "Jon" Fulton	2,401	37.32

Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District Election, 2006
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch (inc.)	21,300	100.00

Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District Election, 2008
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch (inc.)	26,510	70.27
Democratic	James Pete Rapp	11,214	29.73

Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District Election, 2010
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch (inc.)	20,866	75.99
Democratic	Steven Smith	6,594	24.01

Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District Election, 2012
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch (inc.)	21,991	100.00

Indiana Auditor Election, 2014
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Suzanne Crouch	793,633	59.62
Democratic	Michael Claytor	479,109	35.99
Libertarian	John Schick	58,332	4.38

See also

• List of female lieutenant governors in the United States

References

1. https://secure.in.gov/lg/2347.htm
2. Brandon Smith (December 16, 2013). "Suzanne Crouch Named Third State Auditor In Five Months". indianapublicmedia.org.
3. Indiana Secretary of State. "Election Results: Auditor of State".

External links

• "Biography of Suzanne Crouch". IN.gov.
• Profile at Vote Smart