Pol preps to replace Tallian in state Senate
Rodney Pol Jr. said he will draw from his experiences as a public defender, working for the City of Gary and assisting former state legislators as he heads downstate to be the next 4th District Indiana State Senator.
In a recent Democratic Party caucus, Pol was the top vote-getter to replace State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, whose resignation is effective Nov. 1. At the caucus, where precinct committee chairs in Porter and LaPorte counties voted, Tallian said she supported Pol.
“To be able to fill Sen. Tallian’s shoes and have her support means a lot,” Pol said after winning. He will be sworn in Nov. 16.
Pol, 37, said he grew up in East Chicago and moved to Porter when he was in grade school. His mother, Tammy, is an educator in East Chicago and his father, Rodney Pol Sr., was in the printing and production business and now works for steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
He attended Purdue University North Central and Indiana University Northwest before transferring to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he received his bachelor’s degree psychology in 2006.
In 2010, he earned his law degree from the IU’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Pol said. After law school, he had a choice between an offer to work for an insurance defense firm in the area or a second interview with the state public defender’s office, he said.
He decided to forego the insurance defense firm position to go for the public defender position. Ultimately, Pol said he received the public defender position and worked there for four years.
Pol said he views his time in the public defender’s office as a “formative” experience because
he learned more about how criminal law is practiced across the state and working with different judges and lawyers. In that time, he argued a case in front of the Indiana Supreme Court, he said.
“I got to see firsthand the effects of our criminal code and I definitely get to see what effect that has on the individual and the system as a whole,” Pol said. “It gave me a view to see we have a great legal system, but there are definitely things that need to be reformed as part of that.”
After working in the public defender’s office, he worked in the City of Gary legal department during former Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson’s administration, he said.
Pol said he and his wife, Alayna, were excited to move back to the area with their two young daughters. Additionally, Pol said he enjoyed learning about and practicing municipal law. He’s worked for the city the last seven years, he said.
Previously, Pol said he worked for the Indiana House of Representatives and did research for former Democratic Reps. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, and John Aguilera, D-East Chicago.
In that time, Pol said he learned a lot about how the legislative process worked, did a lot of research and data collection and helped with constituent correspondence.
Brown, now a member of the Lake County Council, said he asked for Pol to work with him because he was one of the few assistants from the Region, which is rare.
“Rodney was exceptional, without a doubt,” Brown said. “And a quick learner. It’s not an easy task learning the monstrosity down there.”
Given his experience as an attorney, Brown said Pol will excel as a senator.
“I think he will do an excellent job,” Brown said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the district selected the best (candidate).”
His advice to Pol: “Keep his head up and make sure you look out for your district.”
Pol said he decided to run for the seat because he believes he will have a similar legislative style to Tallian.
“She’s a fierce believer in the values that she has, and I share a lot of those values,” Pol said. “I looked at it as an opportunity to carry the torch.”
As a senator, Pol said he wants to see Tallian’s coal ash bill through, which addresses the closing of ash pits and disposal of coal ash. Pol said he’d also like to see through Tallian’s workers’ compensation bill and updating those benefits, as well as her marijuana legislation.
Pol said he’d like to also address public education, “which is headed for a potential crisis” as it is harder to retain teachers.
But, Pol said he’s also going to spend time preparing to address some bills he’s heard will be proposed in the upcoming session that he’s concerned about, like turning school board elections into partisan races.
“I think that’s really harmful for the State of Indiana. People hate politics already, and I think people think things are too politicized,” Pol said.
As he faces a Republican supermajority, Pol said he will make sure to focus on the issues and work across the aisle.
“The intent is to be able to sit down and work with Republicans that are willing to listen to substantive issues and the impact that they actually have on Hoosiers,” Pol said. “That’s about all you can do when you’re in a super minority.”