Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon Dies at 73

Sep 13, 4:24 PM (ET)


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Frank O'Bannon, who parlayed down-home southern Indiana charm and consensus-building ability into mixed success as his state's governor since 1997, died Saturday, five days after suffering a stroke. He was 73.

O'Bannon, who fell ill Monday while attending a conference in Chicago, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, press secretary Mary Dieter said.

O'Bannon died at 11:33 a.m., a statement from his press office said.

"The governor experienced a drop in both blood pressure and heart rate. Based on the governor's living will, First Lady Judy O'Bannon and the family decided to use no further means of support and care and the governor died naturally," the statement said.


Although he suffered a genetic condition that gave him tremors, his most recent physical had not turned up any medical concerns, Dieter said.

The last governor to die in office was Missouri's Gov. Mel Carnahan, who was killed in a plane crash in October 2000 while campaigning for the U.S. Senate.

O'Bannon's tenure began brightly with the economic boom of the late 1990s. Indiana built a record $2 billion surplus, and O'Bannon cut taxes by $1.5 billion, put 500 more police officers on the streets, and won increasing funding for schools and universities. The moderate Democrat coasted to re-election in 2000 over former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh.

Shortly into his second term, the economic good times soured into a recession. Indiana lost 120,000 jobs, and tax revenues flowing into state coffers slowed to a trickle, forcing tax increases and cuts in social services and other agencies while largely sparing education.

Think Kernan will push gun-control crap?

My analysis of this news is posted here.

Quoted: Think Kernan will push gun-control crap?

Kernan will be a care-taker governor for the rest of the term.  He won't touch gun control.  Watch for the Democrat base to beg and plead for him to change his mind about running for governor.  They know that Mitch Daniels will slaughter former Clinton apologist Joe Andrew and his gazillionaire socialite running mate Bren Simon.  They also know only Kernan has a chance to beat Daniels.

Quoted: Kernan will be a care-taker governor for the rest of the term.  He won't touch gun control.

Yeah, you're probably right.

I'm sorry he died. I liked Frank.