INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels plans today to announce his proposals for revamping local government, an issue that could prompt contentious debate during the upcoming legislative session.

The governor's office said Wednesday that Daniels will be joined at a news conference by former Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard, who co-chaired a commission that last year offered sweeping plans aimed at streamlining local government.

Among its proposals were the elimination of the state's 1,008 township governments, to be replaced by a single elected county chief executive who would appoint county officials now elected, such as the sheriff, assessor and auditor.

The commission also backed consolidating small school districts so they have at least 2,000 students.

Daniels, a Republican, did not weigh in on many of the recommendations during his successful re-election campaign this year, although he did say township government was a 19th century relic.

"I don't mind saying that township government in the main is antiquated," he said this fall. "It doesn't exist in many other states. It is part of the redundancy that produces this astonishing number of elected officials that we have, and I think that is very much a candidate for reform."

The governor also has said that consolidating some small school districts would eliminate administrative overhead and free up more dollars for the classroom.

Opposing sides on the issue have already lined up before the start of the new legislative session next month.