I am pleased to announce that Ryan Nees, Dr. Chrisopher Stack, Indiana State Rep. David Orentlicher, and former Marion County Fire Chief Louis Dezelan, each of them in their own unique ways a prominent citizen-activist, have agreed to join our expanding list of contributors. Each of these individuals brings a distinguished record of accomplishment in their respective fields.

Ryan Nees will be a senior at Western High School outside Kokomo, Indiana, this fall. In 2006 he won a public access lawsuit against the City of Kokomo, made national news, and was recognized with a prestigious Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, who recognized him for his “youth, tenacity, understanding of the law, and his courage in the pursuit of public records.” Last year, he launched IndianaOnMessage.com, one of "the best and most viewed Internet sites on Indiana politics," according to the Herald Times, has worked for years in Democratic politics, developing media for municipal, legislative, and gubernatorial campaigns, and is now serving as Sen. Richard Lugar's youngest-ever intern in Washington, D.C. He writes for The Kokomo Perspective and the Howey Political Report. Ryan will be writing about Indiana and national politics and the youth culture.

David Orentlicher is the Samuel R. Rosen Professor of Law at Indiana University Law School at Indianapolis. Before that David served as the Director of Medical Ethics for the American Medical Association. He is a 1981 graduate of Harvard University Medical School and a 1986 graduate of Harvard Law School. He has published more than 80 articles in leading medical and legal journals addressing critical issues in medical ethics. Since 2002 he has served in the Indiana House of Representatives. David will be writing about public policy and ethical issues involving the law and medicine.

Christopher Stack was known as one of Indianapolis’ leading orthopedic surgeons prior to his retirement in 2004. He graduated in 1979 from IU’s School of Medicine and began his practice at IU Medical Center, later joining Indiana Orthopedic & Sports Medicine. Chris was appointed by Gov. Joe Kernan to the Indiana Mandated Benefits Task Force on which he served as its chair. He is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program as well as Hoosiers for a Common Sense Health Plan. Dr. Stack is an active advocate for single-payer health plan coverage, and will be writing about health care issues.

Louis A. Dezelan was a professional firefighter 30 years and served as the Fire Chief for the City of Indianapolis from 2000 through 2004. Chief Dezelan holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Governments. He has had 26 articles published in nationally distributed trade magazines.

Dezelan has served on the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis chapters of the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association and is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the National Institute for Fitness and Sport. He now serves as an independent consultant in matters of public safety and government consolidation. Louis will be writing about local government politics and administration and other public policy issues.

We look forward to Lou, Christopher, David and Ryan sharing their wisdom and commentary with the AVA community. Welcome aboard!

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