LAWRENCEBURG: A Lawrenceburg High School graduate has been selected to act as legal representation for the Southeastern Indiana Regional Port Authority. Andrew D. Baudendistal, a Lawrenceburg attorney associated with the Votaw and Schwartz law firm will represent the Port Authority that includes the cities of Aurora and Lawrenceburg and parts of Dearborn County. SIRPA made the announcement Thursday. He will replace Jeff Stratman, who resigned as legal counsel to take a position in Phoenix, Arizona. Baudendistal graduated from Lawrenceburg High School in 2000, Hanover College in 2004, and NKU Chase College of Law in 2008.
He currently serves southeastern Indiana as the Dearborn County Attorney, the attorney for the Dearborn County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, the attorney for the South Dearborn Regional Sewer District, and is the City Attorney for the City of Rising Sun. SIRPA chairman Shane McHenry, a Dearborn County Commissioner, says Baudendistal’s experience working with county municipalities ensured he will be up to the task of performing the myriad of duties necessary for the Port Authority.
The Port Authority also selected J. Sebastian Smelko, of Indianapolis law firm Bingham Greenbaum Doll, LLP to act as SIRPA Special Legal Counsel. McHenry says having special counsel in Indianapolis is a necessity as both the State and Ports of Indiana get ready to announce the location of the fourth port. Smelko’s prior experience includes assisting the Office of Governor Mitch Daniels as Assistant General Counsel, as well as, the Ports of Indiana as General Counsel and Governmental Affairs Director.
