The Outstater

August 23, 2026

Public ‘Service’ Understood

I’M HAVING TROUBLE sorting out the Andy Zay settlement this week. Zay, a former state senator, describes himself as a “public servant.” As commissioner of the Indiana Utilities, though, he displeased his boss the governor and was fired, somewhat abruptly. 

But this is politics, not tiddlywinks. Wouldn’t grown-ups just agree to disagree and go their own way? A difference of opinion, a policy clash? Zay could run for governor if he feels that strongly about it.

Indeed, my first reaction to the firing was that we were witnessing a rare instance of decisiveness in the upper echelons of the GOP. Someone had actually drawn a clear policy line, right or wrong, about a critical issue, energy pricing.

So for what was the $625,000, about one-fourth of it to the attorneys? For work Zay didn’t do after he was fired? For an insult? (Is it even possible to insult a politician, at least in the conventional sense?)

And Gov. Mike Braun, after handing over the fat check, issues a statement commending Zay: “I want to recognize Andy for his service to the state. Public service is demanding work, and I appreciate his contributions over the course of a decade on behalf of Hoosiers.” 

So we are supposed to be the winners here, the ultimate beneficiaries of this flurry of public service? But the $625,000 was our money, right? If Zay had been doing such a bang-up job, we could have saved a half million by keeping him at his post, plus the state’s legal fees.

We’re being “served” alright. The question is what. — tcl

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