O'Bannon makes new appointment

Gov. Frank O'Bannon announced Wednesday the appointment of Pat Rios as his new Deputy Chief of Staff, effective Sept. 10. \nRios, who has been an executive assistant to the governor since August 1999, replaces Bryan Nicol. O'Bannon named Nicol commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation. \n"I appreciate the trust the governor has put in me by asking me to take on these new duties," Rios said. "I have already had the honor of working with him on such important projects as the Children's Health Insurance program, and this new challenge will be a high point of my career in public service." \nAs the governor's executive assistant, Rios has overseen five state agencies -- the Departments of Health and Insurance, the Professional Licensing Agency, the Health Professions Bureau and the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency. She also has served as one of the governor's liaisons to the Indiana House of Representatives and as his administrative liaison to the Latino community. \nRios previously worked as legislative director to the Indiana Department of Health from January 1996 until she joined the governor's office three years later. She also directed the health department's programs to serve people with AIDS and worked as a legislative assistant in the state House of Representatives. \n"Pat Rios has been a valued member of my staff, and I'm pleased that she has agreed to play an even bigger role," O'Bannon said in a press release. "Her breadth and depth of knowledge about the numerous issues with which state government deals will be invaluable to her -- and to the people of Indiana -- in her new position." \nRios earned her law degree last year from then-Indiana University at Indianapolis. Her undergraduate degree is from Martin University. \nIn other statehouse news, O'Bannon dedicated the U.S. 231 bridge over the Wabash River Wednesday in honor of Indiana's 42nd governor, Roger D. Branigin. \nA resolution in the spring General Assembly session designated the bridge that connects Lafayette and West Lafayette to be named in honor of Branigin. It was introduced by State Representative Sheila J. Klinker of Lafayette. \n"Governor Branigin was first and foremost a great citizen of the state of Indiana," O'Bannon said. "His leadership and dedication to the people of Indiana and to Tippecanoe County are great examples of what Hoosier values really mean." \nThe bridge, completed in 1996, connects the recently constructed and relocated sections of U.S. 231 in Lafayette and West Lafayette. The old U.S. 231 route is in the process of being relinquished to the appropriate local governments. \nRoger Douglas Branigin, a graduate of the Harvard University School of Law, served as governor from 1965 through 1969. Branigan died Nov. 19, 1975.