Pence appoints veteran Indiana aide chief counsel

Indiana Gov.-elect Mike Pence is picking a veteran Republican staffer and state lawyer to be his top lawyer.

Pence announced Wednesday that Mark Ahearn would serve as his general counsel. Ahearn comes from the Indiana Department of Transportation and previously worked for Pence and former Sen. Dan Quayle in Congress.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller praised Ahearn's pick Wednesday and said they worked well together in state government and in Quayle's office.

Pence is continuing to fill out his inner circle ahead of his January inauguration. Pence tapped top campaign aide Chris Atkins to be his budget director. Longtime chief of staff Bill Smith was tapped earlier this month to run the Pence transition team.