Ross Deal named new state representative for Indiana House District 7

INDIANAPOLIS – Ross Deal of Mishawaka has been selected the new Seventh District representative in the Indiana House.

Deal’s selection was made Thursday by St. Joseph County precinct committee members. He succeeds Joe Taylor III, who resigned the post earlier this month.

Deal, 61, works as an insurance agent. He served on the Mishawaka Common Council from 2008-2011 and from 2016-2018. He was a member of the Mishawaka Police Department from 1981-1991, rising to the rank of captain.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Indiana University South Bend. He also graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, where he was class president.

Deal served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1975-1978.

He is a member of the Mishawaka Business Association, the Knights of Columbus, and the Usher St. Bavo’s Catholic Church.

Deal is married to Bonnie. He has four children (Danielle, Courtney, Kristin and Jared) and four grandchildren.

Deal will be formally sworn in to his new position at a future date. He will serve on three House committees: Roads and Transportation; Employment, Labor and Pensions; and Agriculture and Rural Development.