Who Would Take Lubbers' Senate Seat?

Word has leaked out that State Sen. Teresa Lubbers (R-Indianapolis) is the leading candidate to take Stan Jones place as Commissioner of Higher Education. If she accepts the job, she will resign her position in the Indiana Senate. Republican precinct committeepersons would caucus to pick her replacement. Any speculation on who will be interested in her seat? I'll throw out a few names. Steve Keltner, an emergency room assistant by occupation, ran for this senate seat as a Libertarian. Steve has subsequently switched his allegiance to the Republican Party. Ken Morgan ran a respectable primary race against Lubbers last year. Adam Nelson, an unsuccessful state representative candidate against Ed DeLaney last year, may have an interest in the seat. Also, Glenn Hatmaker, a former Senate staffer and precinct committeeperson, has expressed an interest in the seat in the past.

UPDATE: Add to this list these political insiders who don't have to look to grassroots support for help at a caucus of mostly-appointed committeepersons: City-County Councilor Ryan Vaughn, Rep. Cindy Noe, former Goldsmith hack Anne Shane and former BMV Commissioner Ron Stiver.

Here's another thought. Shouldn't there be outrage at Lubbers for resigning her senate seat less than six months after she won re-election? This has become a standard practice of legislators to resign their seat in the middle of their terms rather than not seeking re-election at the end of their terms. The consequence of this action is to deprive voters of the right to pick their legislator. Lubbers' replacement will get to serve for 3 1/2 years before he or she will face voters. I'm getting so sick and tired of this practice. It is time we changed the law to require special elections. Maybe we would have a lot less resignations if the resigning legislator knew it would be hard for party leaders to handpick their replacement.