Gary Senator & School Advocate Will Not Seek Reelection

Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary) announced Tuesday that she will not seek re-election, ending a 34-year legislative career.

Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary (Photo Credit: Indiana Senate Democrats)

Rogers has served in the Senate since 1990 representing Indiana’s third district, which includes portions of Gary, Merrillville, Hobart, Crown Point, Lake Station and New Chicago. Prior to that, she represented the district in the House for eight years.

Rogers is also a Gary native, and has been a longtime advocate for her district’s school system – a system she worked in as a teacher for 38 years. Many consider her a champion the Gary Community School Corporation has badly needed.

In an interview with StateImpact earlier this year, Rogers said she sees a bright future for a district that, in her opinion, many others write off.

“There is just a renewed hope that I’ve seen in the community, in terms of everybody wanting to pitch in to make things better,” Rogers said. “I think that change in attitude is what, more than anything else, is what’s going to lead to the rejuvenation that all of us are looking forward to.”

State Board of Education member Eddie Melton, who represents Gary on the board and resides in northwest Indiana, told the Northwest Indiana Times in November that he would consider a run for Rogers’ seat, should she decide to retire. He has already filed paperwork to form an exploratory campaign committee.

This story will be updated.