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Indianapolis City-County Council

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City–County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County
City of Indianapolis
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
FoundedJanuary 1, 1970 (1970-01-01)
Preceded byIndianapolis Common Council
New session started
January 1, 2024
Leadership
President
Vice President
Ali Brown (D)
Majority Leader
Maggie A. Lewis (D)
Minority Leader
Brian Mowery (R)
Minority Whip
Paul Annee (R)
Structure
Seats25
Political groups
Majority
  •  Democratic (19)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
November 7, 2023
(25 seats)
Next election
November 2, 2027
(25 seats)
Meeting place
Beurt R. SerVaas Public Assembly Room
City-County Building
200 E. Washington St.
Website
www.indy.gov/agency/city-county-council

The City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County is the legislative body of the combined government of the city of Indianapolis and the county of Marion in the state of Indiana. The council was established as part of the consolidation of city and county governments, enacted by Unigov on January 1, 1970.[1]

The council is composed of 25 members elected to four-year renewable terms, each representing an electoral district. The council is responsible for reviewing and adopting budgets and appropriations. It can also enact, repeal, or amend ordinances, and make appointments to certain boards and commissions, among other duties. Council offices and the public assembly room are housed in the City-County Building.[1]

History

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City Council (1832–1891)

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Robert Bruce Bagby was elected as the city's first African American to serve on the Indianapolis City Council in 1877.[2]

Common Council (1891–1970)

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Nannette Dowd became the first woman elected to Indianapolis Common Council in the 1934 municipal election.[3] Sumner Alexander Furniss was elected and served from 1917 to 1921.[4]

City-County Council (1970–present)

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Following the launch of Unigov on January 1, 1970, members of the former Indianapolis Common Council and the Marion County Council were combined to form the first City-County Council. The council was composed of 29 seats: 25 representing geographic districts and four at-large.[1] The first City-County Council election occurred on November 2, 1971.[citation needed]

In the 2011 Indianapolis City-County Council election, Zach Adamson was elected as the first openly gay member of the council, representing District 17.[5]

In April 2013, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 621 which outlined several changes to city-county government, including eliminating the council's four at-large seats following the 2015 Indianapolis City-County Council election. The controversial bill was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence.[6]

The 2019 Indianapolis City-County Council election proved historic. Democrats flipped six Republican seats to earn the party's first supermajority since the council's creation in 1970.[7] Ali Brown became the first openly queer-identifying woman to serve on the council, representing District 5. Along with the reelection of Adamson, Brown was joined by fellow newcomers Ethan Evans (District 4) and Keith Potts (District 2), respectively—the most LGBTQ members in the council's history.[5]

Leading up to the 2023 municipal primary the Marion County Democratic Party announced the end of slating, a political process in which precinct committee persons endorsed candidates during a pre-primary convention. Candidates endorsed through the slating process were supported with party resources.[8] In 2019, of the 24 electoral districts with contested Democratic primaries, 15 candidates were unopposed on the ballot.[9] That year, all the incumbent councilors in both the Democratic and Republican primaries won their primary races.

In the 2023 Indianapolis City-County Council election, the Republican Party gained one seat while the Democratic Party maintained its supermajority with 19 seats. During the Democratic primary, 11 candidates ran unopposed. Three incumbent Democratic councilors were defeated in the May primary.[10] Jesse Brown, an endorsed member of the Democratic Socialists of America was elected to council for District 13.[11] Nick Roberts, age 23, was elected to council for District 4, making him the youngest Elected Official for any of the 50 largest American cities. [12][13]

Composition

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Map of Indianapolis City–County Council electoral districts since 2023

The Indianapolis City-County Council consists of 25 seats corresponding to 25 electoral districts apportioned by population throughout Marion County. Because the council is the legislative body for both the city and the county, residents of Marion County's four "excluded cities" (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway) are eligible to vote in council elections and are equally represented alongside Indianapolis residents.[14] Every seat is up for reelection every four years. The head of the council is the council president who is elected by the majority party at the council's first meeting in January.

Following the 2019 elections, Democrats expanded their control of the council with a 20–5 majority.[15][16] This marked the first time in Indianapolis history that Democrats have held a supermajority on the council.[17] The clerk of the council is Yulonda Winfield.

Current members

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Current composition of Indianapolis City–County Council
District Councilor Assumed office Party
1 Leroy Robinson January 1, 2016 Democratic
2 Brienne Delaney January 1, 2024 Democratic
3 Dan Boots January 1, 2020 Democratic
4 Nick Roberts January 1, 2024 Democratic
5 Maggie A. Lewis November 25, 2008[a] Democratic
6 Carlos Perkins January 1, 2024 Democratic
7 John Barth January 1, 2020 Democratic
8 Ron Gibson January 1, 2024 Democratic
9 Keith Graves June 14, 2019[b] Democratic
10 Alison "Ali" Brown January 1, 2020 Democratic
11 Crista Carlino January 1, 2020 Democratic
12 Vop Osili January 1, 2012 Democratic
13 Jesse Brown January 1, 2024 Democratic
14 Andy Nielsen January 1, 2024 Democratic
15 La Keisha Jackson August 22, 2014[c] Democratic
16 Jessica McCormick January 1, 2020 Democratic
17 Jared Evans January 1, 2016 Democratic
18 Kristin Jones January 1, 2020 Democratic
19 Frank Mascari January 1, 2012 Democratic
20 Michael-Paul Hart January 1, 2020 Republican
21 Joshua "Josh" Bain August 14, 2020[d] Republican
22 Paul Annee January 1, 2020 Republican
23 Derek Cahill January 1, 2024 Republican
24 Michael "Mike" Dilk January 1, 2020 Republican
25 Brian Mowery December 5, 2016 Republican

Standing committees

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Current composition of standing committees [22]
Committee Chair Members
Committee on Committees Vop Osili Maggie Lewis
Brian Mowery
Administration and Finance Frank Mascari Paul Annee
John Barth
Dan Boots
Derek Cahill
Crista Carlino
Michael Dilk
La Keisha Jackson
Maggie Lewis
Brian Mowery
Andy Nielsen
Nick Roberts
Community Affairs Ali Brown Paul Annee
Derek Cahill
Ron Gibson
Keith Graves
Michael-Paul Hart
Kristin Jones
Vop Osili
Nick Roberts
Education Keith Graves Josh Bain
John Barth
Dan Boots
Derek Cahill
Michael-Paul Hart
Jessica McCormick
Carlos Perkins
Leroy Robinson
Environmental Sustainability John Barth Jesse Brown
Derek Cahill
Brienne Delaney
Michael Dilk
Michael-Paul Hart
Andy Nielsen
Carlos Perkins
Nick Roberts
Ethics Jessica McCormick Paul Annee
Josh Bain
Michael-Paul Hart
Frank Mascari
Carlos Perkins
Metropolitan and Economic Development Maggie Lewis Paul Annee
John Barth
Derek Cahill
Brienne Delaney
Jared Evans
Ron Gibson
Michael-Paul Hart
La Keisha Jackson
Kristin Jones
Brian Mowery
Leroy Robinson
Municipal Corporations La Keisha Jackson Josh Bain
Ali Brown
Jesse Brown
Michael Dilk
Jared Evans
Ron Gibson
Keith Graves
Michael-Paul Hart
Kristin Jones
Brian Mowery
Carlos Perkins
Parks and Recreation Jared Evans Paul Annee
Josh Bain
Dan Boots
Jesse Brown
Crista Carlino
Brienne Delaney
Michael Dilk
Frank Mascari
Jessica McCormick
Public Safety and Criminal Justice Leroy Robinson
Crista Carlino (Vice Chair)
Paul Annee
Josh Bain
Dan Boots
Brienne Delaney
Keith Graves
Michael-Paul Hart
Frank Mascari
Jessica McCormick
Brian Mowery
Carlos Perkins
Public Works Kristin Jones Josh Bain
Dan Boots
Derek Cahill
Crista Carlino
Michael Dilk
Jared Evans
Ron Gibson
Jessica McCormick
Brian Mowery
Andy Nielsen
Nick Roberts
Rules and Public Policy Vop Osili
Dan Boots (Vice Chair)
Paul Annee
Josh Bain
Ali Brown
Michael Dilk
La Keisha Jackson
Maggie Lewis
Brian Mowery
Andy Nielsen
Carlos Perkins
Leroy Robinson

Salary

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Members of the council earn an annual salary of $11,400, plus per diems of $112 per council meeting and $62 per committee meeting.[23] Ordinance stipulates that annual base pay is capped at 12 percent of the mayor's salary ($95,000). In June 2022, councilors approved revisions to the ordinance for the first time in more than 20 years, increasing the annual salary to $31,075, in addition to per diems of $150 per council meeting and $75 per committee meeting. The ordinance will take effect in 2024, following the 2023 Indianapolis City-County Council election.[24]

Pertinent issues

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  • Scooters Removal/Regulations[25]
  • Addressing Potholes[26]
  • Improve Downtown[27]
  • BlueIndy[28]
  • Equity and Equality[29]
  • Council Pay Raise[30]

Former councilors

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Marion County Democratic Party precinct committee members elected Lewis to complete the term of Cherrish Pryor. Pryor vacated the seat after her election to the Indiana House of Representatives.[18]
  2. ^ Marion County Democratic Party precinct committee members elected Graves to complete the term of Stephen Clay following his resignation.[19]
  3. ^ Marion County Democratic Party precinct committee members elected Jackson to complete the term of Vernon Brown following his resignation.[20]
  4. ^ Marion County Republican Party precinct committee members elected Bain to complete the term of Jason Holliday. Holliday vacated the seat to serve as the Decatur Township Trustee.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Blomquist, William A.; White, Elizabeth L. (2021) [1994]. "Indianapolis City-County Council". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Warren, Stanley; Blair, Lyndsey D. (2021) [1994]. "Robert Bruce Bagby". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "City Council Will Have First Woman Member". The Indianapolis News. November 17, 1934. p. 17. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Who's who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America (Sixth ed.). Brooklyn, New York: Thomas Yenser. January 1942.
  5. ^ a b Pak-Harvey, Amelia (February 2, 2020). "Historic city council has most LGBTQ members ever. Here's why that matters". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "Pence signs measure overhauling Marion County government". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. May 12, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Hays, Holly V. (November 11, 2019). "Why some expect bipartisanship on City-County Council despite Democrats' historic supermajority". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Company. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Fenwick, Tyler V. (January 3, 2023). "Marion County Democrats will stop slating and move to open primary". Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "2019 Indianapolis Primary Election Results (Unofficial)". January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Cheang, Ko Lyn (March 5, 2023). "Indianapolis voters oust 3 Democratic incumbents from City-County Council". Indystar.com.
  11. ^ "Wins from coast to coast!". DSA National Electoral Commission. November 10, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Cheang, Ko Lyn. "Republicans gain one seat as Democrats retain supermajority on Indy City-County Council". IndyStar. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. ^ "Meet City-County Councilmember Nick Roberts, District 4 • Current Publishing". December 3, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "Marion County, Indiana". Savi Interactive. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  15. ^ "Analysis: Indianapolis Democrats win big in City-County Council, flipping 6 seats". The Indy Channel. November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "Democrats expand majority on City-County Council". Indianapolis Business Journal. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "Seismic shift: Democrats win City-County Council supermajority". WTHR. November 6, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  18. ^ "Council gets a new member". The Indianapolis Star. November 30, 2008. p. B3. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. The City-County Council welcomed a new member last week to replace Cherrish Pryor, who won a seat in the state legislature in the recent election. (...) Lewis won 10-3 in a Democratic caucus vote of precinct captains Monday and was sworn in Tuesday.
  19. ^ "Clay resigns from City-County Council following tumultuous tenure". Indianapolis Business Journal. June 4, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "LaKeisha Jackson gets council seat". The Indianapolis Star. August 30, 2014. p. A2. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. A community activist with a long history of service on the Eastside has been selected to replace retired City-County Council member Vernon Brown. (...) She was chosen by Democratic district committee members.
  21. ^ Pak-Harvey, Amelia (August 12, 2020). "One Republican candidate seeks vacant Indianapolis council seat". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  22. ^ "Committees of the Council". www.indy.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  23. ^ "Municode Library". www.municode.com.
  24. ^ Pak-Harvey, Amelia (June 7, 2022). "Indianapolis city-county councilors approve pay raise, their first in more than 20 years". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  25. ^ Pinho, Faith E. "Indianapolis scooters: What the proposed regulations could mean". Indianapolis Star.
  26. ^ Chapman, Lauren (February 28, 2018). "Indy City-County Council Makes Step Forward In Addressing Potholes". WFYI Public Media.
  27. ^ Bartner, Amy. "$31 million tax to beautify Downtown Indianapolis moves to City-County Council". Indianapolis Star.
  28. ^ "BlueIndy: Indianapolis electric car-sharing program to shut down". Indianapolis Star.
  29. ^ "How council leader hopes to transform Indianapolis for poor and marginalized people". Indianapolis Star.
  30. ^ "City-County Council Democrats pull pay raise proposal from agenda, will revisit in 2020". Indianapolis Star.
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