Governor Mike Pence announced Friday his intention to nominate Eric Holcomb as the next lieutenant governor of Indiana.

This announcement came following current Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann's announcement that she will resign to pursue the position of president at Ivy Tech Community College.

In a news release, Governor Pence thanked Lt. Governor Ellspermann and spoke very highly of Eric Holcomb, calling him a "man of character and distinction". 

The Governor's nomination must be approved by majority votes in the House and Senate.

Some of the duties of the lieutenant governor include:

• Serving as President of the Indiana Senate and Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Managing six state agencies including the State Department of Agriculture, Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Office of Tourism Development, Office of Defense Development, Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
• Chair of the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council

Eric Holcomb formerly served as chairman of the Indiana State Republican Party and worked as former Governor Mitch Daniels as his deputy chief of staff and his campaign manager for his 2008 reelection campaign.