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Friday, March 29, 2024

Council members set record straight on priorities

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After a month of controversial changes with a new president, what is next for the Indianapolis City-County Council?

Members of the council spoke with the Recorder this week to answer that question and provide a glimpse into the council’s future as it approaches its next meeting on Feb. 19. 

“We were elected to govern by the people of Indianapolis, and we will not allow one individual to dictate how we govern,” said Leroy Robinson, who represents District 1 on the council. 

Much media attention has been placed on how the council will handle the controversial actions of council president Stephen Clay. Robinson said the Democratic caucus, outside of Clay, have a “firm strategy and plan in place” that will be shared on Feb. 19.

Councilman William “Duke” Oliver wanted to explain why he and another Democrat, Joseph Simpson, supported Clay as president of the council, and then changed their positions once he got in office. 

“I want to share the story about what happened with the public, particularly with people of African-American descent,” said Oliver, who was first elected in 2003 to represent District 9. 

Like many residents, Oliver is concerned about changes related to the council.

Those events started with a Jan. 8 council meeting, where Oliver and four other Democrats joined nine Republicans in electing Clay, a Democrat, as president of the council. 

That was followed by a Jan. 29 meeting where Democrats in attendance voted to hold a new election for the council presidency on Feb. 19 and possibly remove Clay. 

In the meantime, Clay has swiftly embarked on what has arguably become the most controversial council presidency in the city’s recent history. 

As a reward for their support or in a gesture of bipartisanship, Clay selected Republicans to chair three committees, a move that visibly rankled other council Democrats, including those that had supported him. 

On Jan. 31, Clay unilaterally fired three council employees. Almost a week later he said two of them had received improper raises, and made allegations of financial records being destroyed in an attempted cover up.

“What I’m providing you with is information that proves why we need to have a sense of understanding on what is going on in this office,” Clay told reporters during a press conference, where he presented a bag of shredded documents as evidence of his claims. “That is why we are calling for an audit.”

 

Information withheld 

 

Oliver explained that he and the other Democrats who supported Clay on Jan. 8 — Simpson, Monroe Gray and LaKeshia Jackson — only did so as a humorous protest message to then incumbent president Maggie Lewis.

“It was a vote in jest to send a message to Maggie that she wasn’t perfect and that we need to be consulted before she made some major decisions,” Oliver said. “There are also things in the African-American community that we felt needed to be put on the agenda.”

Oliver added that the vote was nothing personal against Lewis.

“That was just about getting her attention,” said Oliver. “It was our way of saying, ‘let’s get together and talk outside of the council chamber about what needs to be done. We wanted to sit down and figure out what economic development proposals we would bring to the mayor so that we could have something measurable to present in 2019 (election year).’” 

Oliver added that Clay asked Simpson to nominate him for president, and asked Oliver to second that motion. However, Oliver noted, Clay never told them that he had made a deal with council Republicans and had an actual chance of winning the presidency. 

“He (Clay) didn’t tell us that,” said Oliver. “We thought Clay would just get his five votes, Maggie would get her 20 votes, get our message and life would go on.” 

Of course, that did not happen. Oliver was shocked when Clay won and Republican Council Minority Leader Michael McQuillen announced that the GOP caucus had received “95 percent” of what it wanted from Clay. 

“I didn’t understand why he would make a statement like that,” said Oliver. “I didn’t understand why they (Clay and Gray) were having a press conference with McQuillen.”

Oliver said the “victory lap” with Clay lasted only a day. He contacted each of the other Democrats who voted for Clay and asked if they knew anything about an agreement between him and council Republicans. All said that they did not.

Oliver said he was not approached by residents of his Eastside district about his earlier vote. However, he noted that ranking Democratic Party leaders and elected officials “roasted” him and the others who supported Clay with questions. One Democratic legislator asked Oliver, “Duke, do you know what you just did?”

Council Democrats held a meeting soon after the Jan. 8 vote, Oliver noted, and “by that Friday we figured out we had to reverse this.” 

They considered their options under council rules and during the Jan. 29 meeting made a no confidence vote to begin the process of choosing a new president. Along with other Democrats, Oliver and Simpson voted in favor, stepping away from Clay. For personal reasons, Gray and Jackson did not attend.

Simpson did not respond to phone calls, and Gray and Jackson could not be reached for comment by press time. 

Republican council members abstained from the Jan. 28 vote. McQuillen said that as a caucus, they have not committed to supporting Clay or anyone else. 

“I’m trying to talk to as many Republicans and Democrats as possible and find out who has the best plan to lead Indianapolis forward,” McQuillen said. “I can’t tell you who it is right now because I honestly don’t know.” 

 

Moving forward and coming back home

 

Oliver said council Democrats will have a meeting this Wednesday evening to discuss their next steps. According to Oliver, there is a document that lists reasons why Clay should be “expelled” from the Democratic caucus. 

“Several of us have already signed it,” Oliver said, adding a warning that has been shared amongst council Democrats: “If you have a reason to not sign it or you do not come to the meeting, it’s not gonna’ be good.” 

Off-the-record sources have indicated that Lewis and Councilor Vop Osili are both possible contenders for the Feb. 19 vote for a new council president. 

However, Oliver said Democrats want to avoid infighting. They are not concerned about finding a front-runner to replace Clay right now. Their focus is on unity as they reprimand Clay and restore the standing of Democrats who once supported him as they go into the party’s slating convention this Saturday. 

“We want to get to the convention to allow those of us who are there to stand before the Democrats and say ‘this is our roadmap, and we want to come back home,’” said Oliver. 

 

The business of the people 

 

Oliver wonders if the firing of the council employees last week was the other “five percent” of what McQuillen and council Republicans wanted from Clay in exchange for their early support. 

“Maybe that’s what it was,” Oliver said. 

McQuillen said since he is not an attorney, he does not know the legal angle of whether Clay’s actions were appropriate. He added that council Republicans are ready to move past that situation and solve community problems. 

“My position as minority leader is making sure that we look forward and take care of all the important business like paving the streets, paying the police and doing all the things that need to be done,” McQuillen said. “Things like these firings should not distract us as we move forward.”

McQuillen added that top issues for Republicans include implementing mass transit projects, and making sure the city’s new criminal justice center is “respectful of the process and makes economic sense.” 

Robinson, a Democrat, said his caucus is committed to crafting “a comprehensive strategy” for crime reduction involving both officials and community organizations, as well as economic development and education.

“We’ve got to focus on career pathways to get our young people educated and employable,” said Robinson. 

For Oliver, recent council events have not divided the community and have not taken the focus off issues such as education, employment, housing and public safety. 

“I feel that we are together on those issues,” Oliver said. “Together does not always mean that we have 100 percent agreement and everybody holding their hand up. I try to educate myself and others to take the issues you want advanced and go forward.”  

William “Duke” Oliver explained that he and the other Democrats who supported Clay on Jan. 8 — Simpson, Monroe Gray and LaKeshia Jackson — only did so as a humorous protest message to then incumbent president Maggie Lewis.

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