(picture l to r, Mark Messmer &  Darryl Schmitt)

Dubois County Councilman Daryl Schmitt has officially joined the Indiana Senate. Schmitt was selected to fill the vacant seat through a private Republican caucus, replacing Mark Messmer, who resigned his District 48 seat recently after winning the Eighth Congressional District primary back in May.

Schmitt secured the position after two rounds of voting by local Republican precinct committee members, competing against three other candidates: Amy Kippenbrock, Richard Moss, and Todd Smith. Messmer, who publicly supported Schmitt, praised his ability to advocate for Southwest Indiana.

Schmitt plans to prioritize local governance, promising to visit every local taxing unit in his district within the next year. He aims to bring Christian values into government and schools while focusing on tax-related debates in the upcoming budget session.

As Schmitt takes on his new role, another caucus will be held to appoint his replacement on the Dubois County Council. Meanwhile, Messmer is now focusing on his congressional campaign against Democrat Erik Hurt and Libertarian Richard Fitzlaff.