Being a bold maverick with nonconformist ideas is Sam Carson’s strategy for becoming Indianapolis’ next mayor. He has a passion for serving the poor and disenfranchised, and if elected wants to use the office to bring jobs and a sense of balance to the city.
This write-in candidate may be the underdog in this race, but as a native of Indianapolis, Carson wants the best for his hometown.
The Recorder spoke with Carson, son of late Congresswoman Julia Carson and uncle to U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indiana, to find out his plans for Indy if elected mayor.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: You had to get more than 3,000 signatures to have your name on the ballot as an independent candidate for mayor. Why did you decide to take this route?
Carson: I thought about it, and my time was running short so I had to make a decision. My decision was, I have to be in this mayor’s race. I switched from running as an independent, on the independent party side, to running as an independent as a write-in. I’ve been around politics for a long time, and I understand the games they play. So I had to come up with a plan B. I wanted to ensure I was in this race. (Independents) said they wanted to get back with me, and I felt like I was being stalled. Indianapolis is corporate; it’s for lobbyists.
If elected mayor, what are the major goals you want to accomplish?
I come from a very political family. My mother was in congress and she passed in 2007. I call these the Julia Carson principles. It’s to serve the poor and invest in people. I came up with the “My Neighbor is Myself Inner City Initiative” and the plan is to fund mentoring programs. The outline I have takes money, and I’m not afraid to ask for money. I’ll ask the City-County Council (CCC) for $100 million for this four-year plan. This plan will utilize the churches and other organizations to provide support services to individuals.
Churches are on every corner, so my goal is to convene all pastors and explain my mission. I want to work from the inside instead of hiring more police. I’m not interested in hiring more police officers. You have over 300 Marion County Sheriff’s deputies well trained and able to hit the streets right now. The majority of those jobs go to family of other police officers.
So, what are your ideas for our city’s police?
I never supported the police consolidation so my plan is to hire Robert Turner, the former Public Safety Director, as my chief of staff and utilize his expertise in the field of law enforcement. IMPD for the next four years, I’m not planning to hire any more police officers, I’m planning to put Marion County Sheriff’s (deputies) on the street. And IMPD, they are partnering with State Police — it’s like a multi-agency collaboration right now. I also plan to make history in hiring the first Black female police chief. I like Rick Hite but I plan to reassign Rick and ask him to establish a better report with federal agencies. I think Rick deserves something more challenging now.
I came across some of your ideas for legalizing marijuana. Do you use marijuana and if not, why are you so passionate about legalizing it?
I haven’t smoked marijuana since the 1980s. I was a smoker. I used to burn my fingers and lips. No, I don’t smoke it now. I’m looking at the dollars, like in Denver, Colorado. A lot of what I want to do, it’s going to take money. Say marijuana was deemed legal on Jan. 1. I anticipate by Dec. 31 the money raised from the sale of marijuana will at least be 30, 40 million in taxes. That money will be used for inner-city programs and infrastructure. Jobs are created to assist these programs and infrastructure work. That person who’s labeled a felon will be able to work at a job that’s $15 an hour for part time. It’s about giving something to support your family instead of doing things that will get you locked up again.
The plan is to divide Indianapolis into four sections: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. You’re working in these sections. The plan is to have 250 per section, pay them $15 an hour to keep that area clean. Curbs, alleys, whatever, it’s just work. Meanwhile I have a staff who is trying to find you something with benefits. Every Friday, as they say, the eagle’s gonna fly. It’s my job to make sure each Friday, you have money in your pocket. So you’re not going to Family Dollar with your boys and sticking them up.
You have ideas for reducing recidivism. What are your job goals for those who aren’t felons, but still need a good job?
When you look at the mayor of Indianapolis and pretty much any other mayor, their job title is really to be the town managers. It’s my job to manage. Being mayor, I can’t manage everything. It’s important for me to identify a person who’s a good fit for that.
Even if you’re going to hire someone else, you still need a plan. So, do you have an idea of what you want them to accomplish?
OK, I just saw the other day, the CCC reference a bioscience project they want to work on. My vision is to just do what I said four years ago and that’s to work with the different agencies that are in place that are doing good work bringing good jobs here. I don’t have a crystal clear plan to get more jobs here. I’m just going to say it. I’m not going to sit here and insult your intelligence by making up some stuff. But if you look at the other candidates running, the plans they have are plans on the state’s website. That’s the best answer I can give you.
Do you feel the Carson name is a blessing or curse in politics?
I feel it’s a blessing because my mother worked hard to build that name. I don’t believe the name Julia Carson is going to get her son elected because people want to know “what are you going to do.” After having a conversation with me, they will understand I am passionate about people.
What do you think she’d say about you running for mayor?
She taught me how to fish, she didn’t just give me fish sandwiches. My mother would be very supportive.
Regarding the six areas of crime Indianapolis Public Safety Director Troy Riggs outlined last year, do you plan to keep the momentum going from the progress that has been made and also build upon that progress?
I didn’t know there was any momentum. I will say my plans, specifically for 46218 area, are bold. I want to send a team of all Black officers, male and female, to patrol 46218 only. If you look at the traffic stops in that area, it’s 100 percent Black. I expect someone to have an issue with having all Black cops, but I’m just doing what I think is in the best interest of that area.
Are there any other areas you feel are unsafe or need a bit of extra help?
The east side, Post Road, Mitthoeffer, 38th, 42nd, 46th, you have a lot of drugs out there. The drug they want us to focus on is heroin, but you have a drug that’s more deadly in my opinion and that’s the Wet (a combination of PCP and marijuana). It’s a deadly drug.
The current Mayor’s Office of Education and Innovation had a big push toward preschool education. What are your ideas for this arm of the Mayor’s office?
If elected, I’m not going to have any mayor-sponsored charter schools. The City of Indianapolis, we’re not in the education business — it’s not our job to sponsor charter schools. I’m not saying education isn’t important because it is. Some of the people out here who have degrees, they need to have training. People in this city have more degrees than a thermometer, but they still can’t get it right. Crime is out of control. We were doing fine without charter schools. There’s a lot of money out here for charters. In my opinion, it’s not about the children, it’s about money.
What are your ideas for youth?
Last year, there’s a food pantry near the Recorder and I saw people walking in the streets because the sidewalks were full of snow. I could have a team of young people sent over there and they could work a few hours at $15 per hour and go home with $60. A Carson Administration will be proactive. I can’t wait and listen to Amos to hear this child is being bullied.
You don’t have anyone backing you and you believe many people won’t like your ideas. What is your strategy to win this race?
And I don’t have a website. My strategy to win is to get more proactive and aggressive on social media. I have to deal with the grassroots piece.
Is there anything else you want to add?
I’ve dedicated this race to Antonia Young, who was involved in a hit-and-run accident. She will never walk to receive her high school diploma. But her mother will for her. But I know if I get in, it’s going to be like Medgar Evers — they gon shoot at me. But I carry a pink card. I’m going to exercise my right to carry. If they get my body guards, I got to look out for me.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/sam.carson.980.
