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Meet Bill Friend - Majority Floor Leader

State Representative Bill Friend (R-Macy) was first elected to serve the constituents of House District 23 in 1992. During his tenure at the Statehouse, Representative Friend has been a ranking member of the House Republican Leadership. Representative Friend was the Republican Floor Leader from 2002-2004 and was selected to serve as Majority Floor Leader after House Republicans won the majority in the 2004 election. Representative Friend's most recent appointment was the Republican Majority Floor Leader for the 118th Indiana General Assembly.

As owner and operator of Friend Farms and President of Green Acres Ham LLC, Representative Friend is a strong advocate for advancing rural communities across the State of Indiana. Throughout his career at the Statehouse, he has served on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Natural Resources Committee, Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation, and the Committee on Joint Rules. He also served on the House Ways and Means Committee from 1994-2002.

During the 2005 session, Representative Friend authored legislation that collected money from Indiana's cigarette tax to be dedicated to the Clean Water Fund within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget. The Clean Water program will ensure productivity of Indiana soil and reduce the cost to taxpayers for cleaning ditches and waterways, which will ensure clean drinking water. Thanks to Representative Friend's leadership, this money will fund a popular program that has never been properly funded.

Representative Friend has also been a leading advocate for alternative energy by authoring and sponsoring legislation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Representative Friend's energy initiatives provide tax incentives for the production and use of alternative fuels. These initiatives will also help move Indiana forward economically by using some of the state's most abundant resources; corn and soybeans.

Outside of the Statehouse, Representative Friend contributes a significant amount of time to his community. He has served as the Allen Township Trustee and Assessor, Miami County Auditor, Vice President of the Miami County Council, Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corporation, Grissom Redevelopment Authority Treasurer, and Solid Waste District Fiscal Officer.

Representative Friend is a 1967 graduate of North Miami High School and 1971 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, receiving a B.A. in Biology. He currently resides in Macy, Indiana with his wife, Ann. They have three children; Chris, Mandy and Daniel, and two grandchildren; William and Sara Ann. Representative Friend also attends Mexico Baptist Church, where he has been a Sunday School Teacher for 17 years.

Indiana House of Representatives: 1992 – present

District 23: Includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.

Committees:

• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Environmental Affairs
• Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation

Address: 3340 W 900 N, Macy, Indiana 46951

Telephone:

• 1-800-382-9841 (During Session)
• 1-765-985-3885 (Outside of Session)

Occupation:

• Owner/Operator, Friend Farms
• President of Green Acres Ham, LLC

Education:

• 1967 graduate of North Miami High School
• Received a B.A. in Biology from the University of Indianapolis in 1971

Civic & Political Experience:

Past:

• GOP National Convention Delegate
• GOP State Convention Delegate
• Solid Waste District Fiscal Office
• Grissom Redevelopment Authority Treasurer
• Miami County Auditor
• Auditors' Association of Indiana, 1st Vice President
• Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corporation
• Miami County Council, Vice President
• Allen Township Trustee/Assessor
• Logansport Memorial Hospital Foundation Coordinator
• Dean of Agriculture Advisory Committee, Purdue University
• Chairman, Agricultural and International Trade Committee, 2001National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL)

Current:

• Chairman, Fifth District Republican Party
• Member, State Republican Committee
• Executive Director of the National Calcium Initiative
• Member, National Agricultural and Rural Development Committee, NCSL
• Independent Colleges of Indiana Board Member
• Farm Bureau Member
• Mexico Baptist Church - Sunday School Teacher 17 years
• Lincoln Lodge #523 F. & A.M.
• Scottish Rite
• Murat Shrine

Legislative:

• Indiana House of Representatives, 1992-Present
• House District 23: Cass and Miami Counties
• Leadership Position: Majority Floor Leader, 2004 to present
• Republican Floor Leader, 2002-2004
• Committee Assignments 2005-2006:
• Agriculture & Rural Development, Natural Resources, Statutory Committee on Interstate International Cooperation, Committee on Joint Rules
• Ways & Means Committee 1994-2002

Awards:

• Industry Meritorious Service Award, Indiana Pork Producers Association
• Friend of Conservation Award, presented by SWCD
• Accomplishment Award, Soil and Water Conservation Districts Society
• 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Indianapolis
• Golden Shovel Award, presented by the Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corp.
• 2006 Hardwood Hero, presented by the Indiana Hardwood Lumberman's Association