Shawna Girgis

Shawna Girgis is the 23rd and incumbent mayor of Bedford, Indiana. She is a mother to three kids.

Early Life
Shawna Girgis was born in Dayton, Ohio. She moved to Lawrence County, Indiana when her father's job was relocated to Bedford. She attended Needmore Elementary School and has lived in the Bedford area ever since. Girgis is a graduate of Indiana University where she earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Sodcial Work and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Girgis is the first person in her family to ear a four-year college degree, an aopportunty that she does not take for granted and one that makes her passionate about the importance of education and training for Bedford area residents. In June of 2005 Shawna began serving as the Executive Director of the Indiana Rural Health Association. In this role Shawna served as the Health and Human Services Chair Person in the development of the Rural Indiana Strategy for Excellence (RISE) 2020 that was spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman; participated in state legislative advocacy efforts that initiated a statewide trauma system and Governor Mitch Daniel's Healthy Indiana Plan, a health insurance plan to cover up to 132,000 uninsured Hoosiers; and led the development of the plan that resulted in over $17 million dollars from the FCC that is providing connectivity in rural Indiana.

Mayor
On November 1, 2007, Girgis was elected mayor, beating the incumbent mayor, John Williams. Girgis moved into city hall in January 2008, being the first woman mayor in Bedford to do so. Girgis is considered a wonderful role model in the city of Bedford. Girgis was re-elected mayor again in 2011. The community experienced a number of victories in 2013. Lawrence County was named one of four bicentennial communities throughout the State of Indiana. Next, Bedford was selected as one of two Stellar Communities in the state, and the downtown area will now be revitalized to the tune of over $19 million during the next few years. Lastly, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce chose Bedford as their Community of the Year, making them the smallest and most rural city to ever receive such a distinguished honor in Indiana. Girgis is committed to overseeing existing projects, and looks forward to the future with great anticipation. Over the next few years, urban walking and biking trails, a revitalized downtown, a greater emphasis on education and workforce training, and an increase in community development activitities, will be in the city.