The commonly used adage “out with the old and in with the new” couldn’t be more fitting when looking at next month’s City-County Council race. Not only have district lines been re-drawn, but also a crop of new names will appear on the ballot. Among the roster of novices are 31-year-old District 7 Republican candidate Adrianne Slash and District 16 Democratic candidate 28-year-old Emily Shrock.
Slashing the status quo
Slash, the daughter of former Indianapolis Urban League President Joe Slash, will go head to head with another Joe (Simpson), as they battle for the seat in what she frequently refers to as “the new District 7.” The “old” District 7 was under the jurisdiction of longtime council president Maggie Lewis.
“Being the child of someone who has always been in the political spotlight, I think my whole life, I have had my eye on an office, I just didn’t know which one it would be,” Slash said.
Slash, who was in no small part inspired to continue the legacy of her civically involved family, said she felt compelled to do her part to make Indianapolis a place that is welcoming, somewhere people are happy to live, work and play.
She said an increase in the number of jobs that provide a living wage is key to meeting those goals, as well as more options for nightlife and social activities.
Slash, who mentioned that she sees herself as a convener, said (seeing) the current state of affairs in local politics has caused her concern. “Something that I’ve been really upset about over the past four to eight years has been watching the council argue and fight with the mayor. It’s been really hard for me because it halts progress,” she said. “If I can be a harmonious voice that helps people understand each other’s sides and possibly meet in the middle — that’s more of a priority to me.”
Another priority, she said, is government transparency and efficiency as well as accountability to the constituents.
Slash said she hopes to create a better connection between her office and the residents of her district, beginning with changing public opinion on the types of candidates people feel they can support. “It’s so disheartening when you knock on someone’s door and they say, ‘Oh I’m a Democrat so I can’t vote for you,’” she said. “In Indianapolis, we have had some great successes by people that happen to be Republican … your dedication for doing what’s best for constituents, that’s what it’s about. There really isn’t a Republican or Democrat way to pave streets and make sure infrastructure is taken care of. I tell people I want them to get to know me and my message and make their decision based off that.”
Shrock the vote
Kokomo native Shrock said her love for the city of Indianapolis began during her time in undergrad at Butler University.
“I learned quickly that this is where I wanted to make my home. I want to make that a possibility for everyone else,” she said.
Shrock, who is challenging Republican Jeff Miller, has been walking and talking with people in her district since the spring. She said she has noticed the issues her constituents currently face are similar to what is happening across the entire city. There are some areas with streets that have received consistent TLC and other areas that have been wholly neglected and haven’t been re-paved in decades. In addition to infrastructure, petty crime is a growing problem that Shrock has experienced first-hand, as her home was broken into within a month of having moved into the neighborhood.
“We’re in an interesting time in Indianapolis. We have a public safety crisis on our hands that needs to be addressed, and the past four years we haven’t seen the type of funding needed to tackle that issue,” she said. “We’re investing in pet projects that only help a few people, whereas more police officers and more money toward public safety may have helped solve some of the issues we’re seeing now.
“It’s all these smaller things I think add up to be a bigger problem, which in turn stunt the growth of the entire district,” she said, adding that she thinks these deterrents not only affect the future of the city but also add to the lack of engagement from young people.
“I think my generation is one of the most apathetic when it comes to voting and government in general … they see the national landscape of politics and it not only scares them but also creates this thought that it’s all about fighting and all about getting what you want no matter what.”
Shrock said her run for council has given her the opportunity to see a silver lining in the cloud. “In running so far, I have a lot of young professionals that are not big Democrats or Republicans but are just excited about getting involved. I tell them that the City-County Council is making 80-year contracts, the youngest person on the council definitely won’t be seeing the end of those contracts, so why don’t we have someone who might see the end of those to not only have a say in it, but to share what the thought pattern was behind its creation.”
