State Rep. Jeff Ellington, R- Bloomington, has been named 2019 Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Bankers Association. He was presented with the award on Sept. 16 at the IBA’s annual convention in French Lick. Since taking office in 2015, Rep. Ellington has proven to be an effective legislator who understands how to build consensus and fix problems facing the state and his constituents. In his short time in the legislature, he has already been appointed to a vice chairman role, further illustrating that he is a trusted voice in the Indiana General Assembly.
Rep. Ellington has earned a reputation for building relationships across boundaries while seeking to create public policy that serves the best interest of Hoosiers. A recent example of his common-sense leadership is the crafting and passage of HEA 1123, which addresses Indiana’s Do Not Call Registry. Ellington authored the legislation and later amended the language to provide an exemption for existing customer relationships of financial institutions. This exemption allows banks to call existing customers to offer products better suited for their needs.
Currently, Ellington serves on three House committees: Natural Resources, Financial Institutions and Local Government. Before becoming an Indiana state representative, he was Monroe County recorder and a member of the Monroe County Council. Additionally, he is a longtime small business owner, as well as a retired firefighter and rescue technician. Committed to community, Ellington is a former area youth baseball and hockey coach, and he continues to sponsor student sports teams. He is an alumnus of Indiana University.
Dax Denton, IBA senior vice president of government relations, said: "Rep. Ellington is one of the hardest working legislators there is. When he identifies a problem facing his constituents or the state, he’s willing to work tirelessly to bring a solution to the problem. Indiana is well served having Rep. Ellington in the General Assembly. The combination of his work ethic, integrity and lead-by-example approach make him a valued asset to his constituents. The Indiana Bankers Association is privileged to name Rep. Ellington as the 2019 IBA Legislator of the Year."