Former Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs has taken over as executive director of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners.

In that role, the Chesterton resident will aid the association in tracking legislation that could impact commissioners and county government, while serving as both a clearinghouse of information and meeting place for commissioners.

"This certainly is more challenging," said Biggs, who wraps up his job today with the DLZ architectural, engineering and surveying firm.

"There's a lot of hats you have to wear," he said.

Biggs had served as a Republican member of the Porter County Board of Commissioners from 1993 to 2000. Keeping a campaign promise, he walked away from the post after serving two terms.

Since leaving, Biggs has worked out of the DLZ office in Hammond and earned a master's degree in Public Safety Administration this past May.

Biggs said he became familiar with the IACC while serving as county commissioner. He served his last two years in office as president and vice president of the association's northwest regional board, which in turn qualified him to serve on the association's executive board.

Having taken over as executive director Monday, Biggs said he is now serving as the voice of that executive board.

He plans to work out of his home and car, explaining that the IACC has chosen not to set down roots in any one of the state's 92 counties. He anticipates, however, he will be spending the first few months of the year in Indianapolis while the General Assembly is in session.

Biggs replaces for former IACC Executive Director William Haan, who died June 2.