Democrats expand majority on City-County Council
Democrats picked up at least five seats—and possibly six, depending on the outcome of a race with a razor-thin margin. Republican leader Mike McQuillen was among the GOP casualties.
City Government
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Joe Hogsett sails to re-election as Indianapolis mayor
The 62-year-old former federal prosecutor had a huge lead over Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt and Libertarian Doug McNaughton in the election on Tuesday.
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Program to spur growth is not limited to poor communities
The area that includes the Fletcher Place neighborhood and the southeast corner of downtown is one of the hottest parts of Indianapolis, yet it’s included in a federal program designed to spur investments in poor neighborhoods.
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Early voting picks up in Marion County in week before election
So far for the 2019 election, 6,158 voters have cast ballots in person, which is higher than how many people voted early in person at the same point in 2015 and 2011.
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New poll shows Hogsett leading Merritt by more than 30 points
According to the poll, conducted by Mason Strategies for Indy Politics, 57% of voters say they would vote for Democratic incumbent Joe Hogsett while only 23% say they would vote for Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt.
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Articles
Hogsett & Merritt talk neighborhoods, poverty, crime and more
IBJ talked with incumbent Democrat Joe Hogsett and his Republican challenger, Jim Merritt, about why they’re running for mayor, what they’ve learned about themselves in the process and how they’ll tackle crime, neighborhood development, crime and more.
Hogsett wants to build on administration’s ‘inclusive growth’ efforts in second term
Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett says if he’s elected to serve a second term, he hopes “that prosperity can be shared by more people in Marion County than has been the case in the past.”
Merritt says collaboration will be key to solving the city’s biggest problems
Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt says his campaign for mayor has taken him to places and introduced him to people in the city he never knew before—an experience he wants to continue if he’s elected.
Talking with people, he said, is key to finding solutions to difficult problems.
Merritt says city shouldn’t have threatened eminent domain for GM stamping plant site
Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt, Democratic incumbent Joe Hogsett and Libertarian Douglas McNaughton specifically addressed the eminent domain issue at Monday night’s Indianapolis mayoral debate.
P.E. MacAllister, businessman and civic leader, dies at 101
He helped build Indianapolis-based MacAllister Machinery Co. into a regional powerhouse and worked behind the scenes during the city’s resurgence beginning in the 1960s. He served in top positions on the election campaigns of Mayor Richard Lugar and Mayor Bill Hudnut, as well as on a myriad of corporate, civic and government boards.
Mayoral candidates square off on issues facing black community
The two major political party candidates for mayor of Indianapolis took the stage Monday night in a what black leaders called a historic discussion on issues facing their community.
Hogsett releases black agenda after initially saying he wouldn’t have one
Mayor Joe Hogsett apologized “to anyone who I have offended” about his initial responses when asked about having a black agenda and said he—along with anyone running for mayor of Indianapolis—does need support from the black community.
Emails: Ambrose exited Waterside project 2 weeks after city rejected request for more funding
The Indianapolis-based developer asked the city for an increase of more than $10 million to its incentive package. But following meetings and email exchanges, city officials rejected the request, calling it “not feasible.”
Cities seek state authority to join forces on taxes, projects
Central Indiana elected officials want to create a formal organization that could combine regional resources to pursue transformational projects.
Council approves Hogsett’s $1.2B budget, with focus on public safety, infrastructure
The 2020 spending plan—which passed 22-2—is projected to spend about $171,500 less than the city will receive in revenue. Officials say that makes it the city’s third consecutive balanced budget since Hogsett—who is seeking re-election—took office in 2016.
Merritt says he’ll appoint Democrat as IMPD chief
Republican mayoral candidate Jim Merritt announced Thursday that he would ask Bill Benjamin, a former Democratic candidate for Marion County Sheriff and former IMPD deputy chief, to serve as the head of the IMPD because “the issues are bigger than party.”
Mental health services center to open next year as first facility at justice center
A mental health services and addiction-treatment center planned for the city’s new Community Justice Campus will open years ahead of the new jail and courthouse facilities, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Wednesday.
Managers planning changes after winning city golf course contracts
Changes are in the works for several city-owned golf courses, after the Indianapolis Parks Department agreed to new, 10-year management contracts that are awaiting approval from the City-County Council.
Some Democrats say party leaders are interfering in prosecutor’s race
Several Democrats told IBJ that party leaders have recently removed precinct committeemen and women who would have supported a candidate for prosecutor that isn’t backed by Mayor Joe Hogsett. The precinct committeemen and women will meet in a caucus Saturday to choose Curry’s successor.
Indy Chamber endorses Hogsett in mayoral race
The Indy Chamber has endorsed Democractic incumbent Joe Hogsett in this year’s mayoral election, but also praised Republican challenger Jim Merritt for his work in the Indiana General Assembly.
Experts say CIB is thin on liability coverage for event venues
The board carries $56 million in liability insurance for its facilities, including a $1 million general liability policy and a $55 million umbrella policy.
Kite Realty seeks TIF funds for 3 mixed-use projects
Indianapolis-based developer Kite Realty Group Trust is asking the cities of Carmel and Indianapolis to ante up incentives for a trio of mixed-use projects in its pipeline.
Red Line will remain free through Nov. 10 as IndyGo works out service, payment kinks
The new payment system IndyGo has paid Paris-based tech firm Flowbird Group to design and implement will not be ready by Oct. 1, the day riders were to start paying for Red Line service.
Indy mayoral candidates want state law to better protect tenants
Democratic incumbent Joe Hogsett and Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt participated in a discussion about homelessness at the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention annual fundraiser and awards presentation on Wednesday evening and were asked about what they would each do to improve the homelessness situation in Indianapolis.