Indianapolis was formally introduced to mayoral candidate Joe Hogsett on a chilly evening Nov. 12, as he launched his campaign from a podium installed inside the historic Landmark for Peace Memorial at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Today, any active member of the community can spot Hogsett at multiple events on any given day. Over the course of his campaign, he has made his presence known not only throughout the city of Indianapolis, but in the African-American community as well, by attending church functions, community festivals and even stopping by the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper earlier this year for a one-on-one interview with newsroom staff.
The former federal prosecutor from Rushville, Indiana, has lived and worked in Indianapolis for three decades and served as Indiana’s Secretary of State from 1989–1994.
Hogsett’s campaign focuses on a comprehensive public safety plan to ensure streets are safe, expanding access to high-quality pre-K, securing jobs for residents and spending tax dollars efficiently and effectively.
The Indianapolis Recorder spoke with Hogsett just a couple of weeks before Election Day to discuss his qualifications for the position, neighborhoods he believes need improvement and his dedication to those in the Black community.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: You’ve been so busy, particularly these last few months. How has the campaign changed since we last spoke earlier this year?
Hogsett: The campaign has changed most significantly in terms of the pace and the significance. Almost every day I will be meeting with community groups, neighborhood organizations, civic groups and others. I actually just gave a speech to a trade group this morning, and I’ll be going to several events tonight. Not to mention, Saturdays and Sundays are busy. Over the past six weeks we’ve averaged eight to 10 stops each day. The goal is to reach and touch as many voters in Indianapolis.
In clear terms, what do you feel makes you the better candidate in this race?
The one thing that distinguishes me from my opponent is that I’ve served for four years as the federal prosecutor. That is important because when we experience, as we did a few weeks ago, a 10-year-old boy who, as I was reading the reports, was attending a memorial service for the grandmother of a friend of his and at some point during that service, three people jumped out of a car and fired shots into a home and the child died … When we have our children at the ages of 9 and 10 being victims of random gun violence, my experience in law enforcement and understanding the community and challenges faced by public safety make me uniquely qualified. I hope I am in an effective position for mayor if elected to raise the level of community trust in the police department and to start meaningfully bridging the gap that exists between those in our community who don’t feel as if they are being served and protected by police. In the wake of Ferguson and Baltimore, those challenges need to be addressed by our next mayor, and immediately.
Some city residents have stated they can obviously see you really want to become mayor of Indianapolis. What is your motive?
It’s because of our children and the value of many instances they are being deprived of. The recommendations given in the “Your Life Matters” report, I not only support many of those, but it is our kids that are our most precious resource. All too often we’re losing our kids to the allure of the streets and to the quick and easy money in the drug trade. That’s why I have proposed a summer jobs initiative for young people, that’s why I support a universal pre-K investment, and that’s why I’ve tried to meaningfully address the suspension and expulsion epidemic that far too often clouds our public schools, then (the students are) sent into the waiting arms of gang life. It’s the future of our city, by protecting the lives of our children.
Some community members are afraid that if elected, you won’t be as active in the community as you have been thus far.
I seek to be the mayor of the City of Indianapolis, and as mayor I represent all of Indianapolis and frankly, if I may suggest, there are many neighborhoods in our city and areas that have been overlooked and ignored. Those people have made their concerns known to me during this campaign and if elected, I would make it a priority to be a very real and present person on all corners, in all neighborhoods, in all parts of our community.
The Black community and Black media deliver news most outlets neglect. If elected, will you continue to grant Black media interviews and keep them abreast on the latest government news?
If I’m not making myself available to the Recorder, I am depriving myself of an important way of communicating to the community as a whole, but particularly the African-American community. It’s no different than the way I feel when Amos invites me on “Afternoons with Amos.” I plan to continue to worship in churches, particularly those in the African-American community who have been very welcoming. I’ve enjoyed going into barbershops, beauty salons throughout Indianapolis, particularly in the African-American community on Saturday mornings, just to do nothing more than to hear what people are saying. They, I think, welcome the opportunity to have me walk into their barbershop, someone who seeks to lead their city and the opportunity to ask any and everything they want to. Believe me, they do (laughs).
During Mayor Greg Ballard’s time in office, he concentrated on the development of the downtown area. Is there a key neighborhood you’d like to concentrate on if elected?
I want to be the kind of mayor that remains sensitive to all neighborhoods, but we know there are many neighborhoods on the west side, northwest side and the east side of town, areas like Haughville, the Riverside community, Martindale-Brightwood, that have been overlooked not by the elected leaders of the area but by city. There is a lot of work to be done in neighborhood development and revitalization.
I want to make one thing absolutely clear. The challenges these neighborhoods face, the ones I’ve mentioned, they are not challenges that occurred overnight. Therefore they aren’t going to be solved overnight, but our focus in revitalization has to begin now with a new administration. In spite of all efforts made, you may not see progress in three or four years but you’ll see it in 10 or 15 years. I want to be a mayor to cut ribbons. I want to be the mayor that plants acorns that trees spring from and future generations can enjoy.
You seem very budget-conscious judging by your commercials. You drive a 2010 Chevy Cobalt and wear the same shoes you’ve owned for years. If elected how will your budget-friendly lifestyle spill over into the way you’d operate the city?
It’s a question of prioritization. Everyone understands money isn’t plentiful. The city’s fiscal stability and its financial condition are very challenged, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the kind of investments in our neighborhoods that could improve the quality of life. For example, one proposal I’ve made during this campaign, and if it’s implemented can be revenue neutral, and that’s the streetlights commercial. I can’t tell you the number of neighborhoods, even the ones previously mentioned that want streetlights so they can feel safe when going outside of their home after the sun goes down. The changing technology from fluorescent lights to the new LED technology, which estimates I’ve seen, can save the cost of electricity from 50–60 percent. If those cost savings happen, you could invest that savings into more streetlights. I would work very closely with neighborhood associations to get their input as to where streetlights can be strategically placed.
The big talk in Indianapolis revolves around mass transit. Do you support the current proposal for a rapid transit system?
I support the Red Line. It’s largely supported by federal dollars thanks to Congressman (Andre) Carson and others. The Red Line is a start, but if we’re truly to have a quality mass transit system, the Indiana General Assembly has allowed Marion County, Hamilton County and Johnson County to participate in a referendum a year from now that will be on the ballot. I’m not sure what the question on the ballot will be, but I will wait to see what it says. As an elected official, if given the opportunity to become mayor, I will support what the people say they want.
It’s fact that Indiana had the lowest voter turnout for the 2014 Midterm Election than any other state. Is this something you’re worried about?
There is nothing more important than everyone understanding how profoundly important it is to vote on Election Day. Of course I want to encourage people to vote for me, but it is more important to let people know to cast that precious and sacred right to be involved in the decision making of the government.
We are holding a nonpartisan effort, particularly for those in the African-American community but for all of those in Indianapolis, by providing a bus service to the polls on Nov. 1. Souls to the Polls, it is an effort supported and endorsed by Congressman Carson.
For more information on Joe Hogsett, visit JoeHogsett.com.
