A Democratic legislator who represented East Chicago in the Indiana House for a third of a century is being remembered by his peers.
East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland says the death of State Representative Earl Harris (D-East Chicago) is very unfortunate and the lawmaker will be missed. Harris lost his battle with cancer and died Monday. He was 73.
Mayor Copeland said Tuesday morning that Harris was a dear friend.
"...A reliable friend, one I could confide in, in serene times and in chaotic times. So for that part, I will truly miss him," Copeland says.
Copeland said he and Harris worked closely on projects that benefited all East Chicago residents, including work on transforming an appointed school board into an elected school board. Harris also offered Copeland some wise advice after his election.
"When I came in as mayor, the city was 15 million dollars in the hole, so I confided in him. And he just gave me some tried and true things to do, and said 'hey, if you hold fast to this, you'll see. Everything is going to work itself out.' He was prophetic then, because now the budget is balanced and his advice was priceless," Copeland says.
Mayor Copeland also remembers how Representative Earl Harris was well-liked by all legislators.
"Republican representatives would tell me how they held him (Harris) in high esteem, and how I was blessed and the city was blessed to have someone as capable and competent as he was, on doing his job. And, I'll never forget that," Copeland says.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Indiana State Democratic Party Chairman John Zody will call for a caucus of precinct committee-members from District 2 within the next 30 days, to select someone to fill the vacancy left behind by Harris' passing. House District 2 includes the city of East Chicago, the west side of Gary and sections of the city of Hammond.