INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana's Republican lieutenant governor has hired a former Democratic state legislator as her liaison to local government officials.

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann's office announced Monday the hiring of Peggy Welch of Bloomington as director of intergovernmental relations.

Ellspermann and Welch served together in the Indiana House before the 2012 election, when Ellspermann was Gov. Mike Pence's running mate and Welch lost her bid for an eighth legislative term after new GOP-drawn districts put in her in a heavily Republican district.

Welch currently is executive director of the Indiana Medical Device Manufacturers Council. She'll start her new position in July.