Former LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris is an excellent choice to serve as executive director of the Indiana Toll Road and as chairman of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Morris, who will complete the remaining five years of RDA Chairman John Clark's seven-year term, is a proven leader.

Even as he served as LaPorte's mayor, Morris showed he had a vision for the entire region, not just his part of it.

As chairman of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Morris led an assortment of government officials on issues ranging from transportation to the environment.

At the RDA, Morris will continue to deal with those issues.

The RDA is working to expand South Shore service to southern Lake and Porter counties and, with the Regional Bus Authority, to foster regional bus service as well. The RDA is helping channel money to Gary/Chicago International Airport for its expansion. It is helping implement the Marquette Plan to improve lakefront access and usage.

In short, the RDA is building regional unity and a regional consensus on some issues that face all of Northwest Indiana and are too big for any one community or county to solve by itself.

"Leigh thoroughly knows Northwest Indiana, but doesn't belong to a faction or interest group," Gov. Mitch Daniels said in announcing Morris' appointment this week. "He'll be a trusted, honest broker who can help the RDA board make the wisest investment of the new funds we have provided for the region."

His full-time job will be to hold the Toll Road's operator, ITR Concessions, responsible for maintaining high standards as required by the state lease.

Transportation has been a big issue for Morris. He sees the big picture for planning to move people not just by car but also by bus and rail. He knows how important the Toll Road is to the region's future.

It's good to see him remain involved in Northwest Indiana's future following his term in the LaPorte mayor's office.