Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has hired former LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris to oversee the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, as well as to serve as chair of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Morris, a Republican, lost his bid for re-election as LaPorte mayor in November.

In his new post as exective director of the Indiana Toll Road, Morris will oversee the state’s 75-year lease agreement with the Spanish-Australian consortium now managing the Toll Road as the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company. He will assume his new duties on Jan. 14.

“His job at the Indiana Toll Road is simple,” Daniels said in a statement. “Hold the operator strictly accountable for high performance standards and the huge investment the contract requires for constructing and maintaining a superior highway.”

Morris will monitor all facets of the company’s performance and will meeting regularly with the company to review their operational and long-term plans, according to the governor’s statement. He will report to Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Karl Browning.

Daniels also announced that Morris will serve as his appointment on the RDA, replacing John Clark, director of the Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development. The governor’s appointment becomes the RDA chair.

“Leigh thoroughly knows Northwest Indiana, but doesn’t belong to a faction or interest group,” Daniels said. “He’ll be a trusted, honest broker who can help the RDA board make the wisest investment of the new funds we have provided for the region.”

State law established the RDA in July, 2005. The agency, made up of a governor’s appointment and officials from Porter and Lake counties, is responsible for developing and funding road, air, rail and bus projects along with improvements to the lakeshore and other economic development projects in the two counties.

Posted 1/8/2008