Governor's Boards and Commissions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a State's board or commission?
   To apply for consideration for appointment to one of the state's boards or commissions, please download an application from the Boards and Commissions home page. Note: you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download available) in order to access the application. Send completed applications, along with a current résumé, to Jon Vanator, Indiana State House Room 206, Indianapolis, IN 46204. If you are having difficulty downloading the application, or have other questions regarding the application, please contact us using the link on the Boards and Commissions home page. Depending on the nature of the board, your related experience, etc., an interview may be conducted by members of the governor's staff or staff from relevant state agencies before a final decision on appointment is made.
2. Do I need letters of recommendation?
   Letters of recommendation are not necessary, but any letters of recommendation will be considered along with the required application materials. Letters of recommendation can be forwarded to our office by the candidate, or, preferably would be sent directly to the Governor's office. Candidates wishing to submit letters of reference should be aware that quality often goes much further than quantity.
3. What are the qualifications for being appointed to a board or commission?
   This varies drastically by board. The Governor is interested in filling the state's boards and commissions with citizens committed to public service who display the highest levels of judgment and integrity. Obviously, certain boards require particular background knowledge, and state law mandates that certain positions on various boards go to people who hold specific professional certifications, occupations, or degrees. In addition, many of the state's boards and commissions require a certain political and/or geographic balance, meaning that on some boards, candidates must reside in a particular county or congressional district or that they must be affiliated with a certain political party in order to keep the political balance of the board. These requirements can be found under the Board Information page for each particular board listed on this site.
4. How will I know if I am appointed?
   A member of the Governor's office staff will contact you (most likely by telephone) regarding the status of your appointment. In addition, all appointees will receive a letter of appointment from the Governor. NO APPOINTMENT IS OFFICIAL WITHOUT A SIGNED LETTER OF APPOINTMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR. Please note that various staff may contact you with requests for further information, or to discuss various aspects of the appointment with you before a final decision is reached. However, only the Governor has the authority to make an appointment, and all appointments will be confirmed by a signed letter from the Governor.
5. What about appointments to fill judicial vacancies?
   Judicial vacancies are handled differently than appointments to boards and commissions, as the Governor's legal staff has the lead role in coordinating judicial appointments. When a judicial vacancy occurs, a notice is sent to the appropriate local bar associations with information on how and when to apply.
6. I am interested in a board which is not listed on this site.
   This site lists only those boards to which the Governor has appointments. There are various state boards where the appointments are made solely by the Lieutenant Governor, the General Assembly, or various state agencies. In addition, this site is constantly being updated. Each legislative session brings the potential for new boards to be created or old boards to be combined or eliminated. For questions about boards not listed here, please contact us using the link on the Boards and Commissions home page.
7. What if I have a complaint about a board member?
   Please contact us using the link on the Boards and Commissions home page to report concerns or complaints about board members. Staff will help to determine the appropriate course of action for dealing with the issue. Your comments will be kept confidential to the extent possible.
8. What are the rules regarding ethics and conflicts of interest for potential board members?
   There are several rules to be aware of regarding limitations and eligibility for serving on boards and commissions. For example, registered compensated lobbyists are barred from serving on all but advisory boards. In addition, the Indiana Constitution prohibits any individual from holding dual lucrative offices. So, for example, a local elected official may be ineligible for service on a board or commission that constitutes a lucrative public office. For more information on dual office holding, please see the Attorney General's website at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral. Prior to any appointment being made, staff will work with the candidate and the necessary state officials to investigate any potential conflict of interest or dual office holding issues.
9. Why can't I download the board application?
   You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your desktop in order to download the application. You can obtain your free Acrobat Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
10. I think some of the information you have for an agency, board, or member is incorrect. Who do I notify?
    Please contact Jon Vanator at 317-233-4198 or submit your comment through the contact form.
11. I am having technical difficulties.
    For technical assistance, please contact accessIndiana
    • - Real time chat with aI customer service representatives
    • Phone assistance - 888.4IN.eGov
    • E-Mail - customerservice@www.in.gov