Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan expected to finish his term in peace andpossibly buy South Bend's minor league baseball team.
But plans don't always run accordingly.
Kernan, 57, temporarily took over the governor's seat Mondayafter Gov. Frank O'Bannon experienced a stroke Monday inChicago.
''It's clear to say that this is a very critical time for thegovernor, and our prayers are with him," Kernan told the AssociatedPress. "Clearly, we are all hoping that at some point Gov. O'Bannoncan return to his duties.''
O'Bannon and Kernan were elected in 1996 and 2000.
As lieutenant governor, Kernan served as the president of theIndiana Senate, commissioner of agriculture, director of theIndiana Department of Commerce and more.
Kernan, who resides in South Bend with his wife Maggie, said hehas a series of accomplishments.
He launched the "Reaching Out to Fellow Veterans" in 1999. Theveterans-outreach initiative was designed to encourage veterans toobtain state and federal benefits earned by serving thecountry.
Kernan, the eldest of nine, is a veteran himself.
He enlisted in the Navy after he graduated from Notre Dame witha degree in government in 1968.
He served in the Navy in 1969 through 1974 and was a navalflight officer.
In 1972 he was held as a prisoner of war for about 11 monthsafter he was shot down over North Vietnam.
He has won many awards, including two Purple Hearts, the NavyCommendation Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1975, Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati hired Kernan. He alsojoined the work forces at Schwartz Paper Company and Mac WilliamsCorporation in South Bend.
From 1980 to 1984, Kernan was South Bend's city controller. Hewent on to be the mayor of South Bend in 1987, 1991 and 1995.
Kernan has also had a hand in the Agricultural Crisis WorkingGroup, Insurance Industry Working Group, Honorary Degree, 21stCentury Research and Technology Fund, international trade, economicdevelopment and tax restructuring.
''My gut tells me the lieutenant governor would not want to beseen as an opportunist and run for governor," IndianaUniversity-Purdue University Indianapolis political pollster BrianVargus told the Associated Press. "On the other hand, do notunderestimate the pressure that will be put on him by theDemocratic Party.''
The last time a lieutenant stepped in for the governor was in1924. Emmitt Branch took over for Gov. Warren McCray, who wasforced to leave office after convicted of mail fraud.
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