The City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County is the legislative body of the combined government of the city of Indianapolis and the county of Marion in the state of Indiana. The council was established as part of the consolidation of city and county governments, enacted by Unigov on January 1, 1970.
The council is composed of 25 members elected to four-year renewable terms, each representing an electoral district. The council is responsible for reviewing and adopting budgets and appropriations. It can also enact, repeal, or amend ordinances, and make appointments to certain boards and commissions, among other duties. Council offices and the public assembly room are housed in the City-County Building.
History
City Council (1832–1891)
Robert Bruce Bagby was elected as the city's first African American to serve on the Indianapolis City Council in 1877.
Common Council (1891–1970)
Nannette Dowd became the first woman elected to Indianapolis Common Council in the 1934 municipal election. Sumner Alexander Furniss was elected and served from 1917 to 1921.
City-County Council (1970–present) Following the launch of Unigov on January 1, 1970, members of the former Indianapolis Common Council and the Marion County Council were combined to form the first City-County Council. The council was composed of 29 seats: 25 representing geographic districts and four at-large. The first City-County Council election occurred on November 2, 1971.
In the 2011 Indianapolis City-County Council election, Zach Adamson was elected as the first openly gay member of the council, representing District 17.
In April 2013, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 621 which outlined several changes to city-county government, including eliminating the council's four at-large seats following the 2015 Indianapolis City-County Council election. The controversial bill was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence.
The 2019 Indianapolis election proved historic. Democrats flipped six Republican seats to earn the party's first supermajority since the council's creation in 1970. Ali Brown became the first openly queer-identifying woman to serve on the council, representing District 5. Along with the reelection of Adamson, Brown was joined by fellow newcomers Ethan Evans (District 4) and Keith Potts (District 2), respectively—the most LGBTQ members in the council's history.
Leading up to the 2023 municipal primary the Marion County Democratic Party announced the end of slating, a political process in which precinct committee persons endorsed candidates during a pre-primary convention. Candidates endorsed through the slating process were supported with party resources. In 2019, of the 24 electoral districts with contested Democratic primaries, 15 candidates were unopposed on the ballot. That year, all the incumbent councilors in both the Democratic and Republican primaries won their primary races.
In the 2023 Indianapolis election, the Republican Party gained one seat while the Democratic Party maintained its supermajority with 19 seats. During the Democratic primary, 11 candidates ran unopposed. Three incumbent Democratic councilors were defeated in the May primary. Jesse Brown, an endorsed member of the Democratic Socialists of America was elected (District 13). Nick Roberts, age 23, was elected to (District 4), making him the youngest elected official for any of the 50 largest American cities at the time.
In February 2026, Los Angeles-based company Metrobloks proposed building a data center in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood on the northeast side of the city of Indianapolis, but many residents strongly opposed this. On April 1, 2026, the city's Metropolitan Development Commission voted 6–2 to rezone the site so as to allow the construction to occur. The project included a $2.5 million commitment to support the neighborhood. However, at around 12:45 am on April 6, about a dozen shots were fired near one councilman's home and a note reading "NO DATA CENTERS" was left behind.
On May 4, 2026, the council introduced Proposal No. 158 which urges the Metropolitan Development Commission to implement a temporary stay on data center approvals. Sponsored by Councilor Jesse Brown, the proposal seeks a stay until May 7, 2027, or until new guidelines for data center projects are established.
Composition
The Indianapolis City-County Council consists of 25 seats corresponding to 25 electoral districts apportioned by population throughout Marion County. Because the council is the legislative body for both the city and the county, residents of Marion County's four "excluded cities" (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway) are eligible to vote in council elections and are equally represented alongside Indianapolis residents. Every seat is up for reelection every four years. The head of the council is the council president who is elected by the majority party at the council's first meeting in January.
Following the 2019 elections, Democrats expanded their control of the council with a 20–5 majority. This marked the first time in Indianapolis history that Democrats have held a supermajority on the council. The clerk of the council is Yulonda Winfield.
Current members Current composition of Indianapolis City–County Council District Councilor Assumed office Party 1 Leroy Robinson January 1, 2016 Democratic 2 Brienne Delaney January 1, 2024 Democratic 3 Dan Boots January 1, 2020 Democratic 4 Nick Roberts January 1, 2024 Democratic 5 Maggie Lewis November 25, 2008 Democratic 6 Carlos Perkins January 1, 2024 Democratic 7 John Barth January 1, 2020 Democratic 8 Ron Gibson January 1, 2024 Democratic 9 Keith Graves June 14, 2019 Democratic 10 Shaila Mulholland October 2, 2026 Democratic 11 Crista Wells January 1, 2020 Democratic 12 Vop Osili January 1, 2012 Democratic 13 Jesse Brown January 1, 2024 Democratic 14 Andy Nielsen January 1, 2024 Democratic 15 Rena Allen May 16, 2024 Democratic 16 Jessica McCormick January 1, 2020 Democratic 17 Jared Evans January 1, 2016 Democratic 18 Kristin Jones January 1, 2020 Democratic 19 Frank Mascari January 1, 2012 Democratic 20 Michael-Paul Hart January 1, 2020 Republican 21 Josh Masquelier September 2, 2026 Republican 22 Paul Annee January 1, 2020 Republican 23 Derek Cahill January 1, 2024 Republican 24 Michael Dilk January 1, 2020 Republican 25 Brian Mowery December 5, 2016 Republican
Standing committees Current composition of standing committeesCommitteeChairMembersCommittee on CommitteesVop OsiliMaggie LewisMichael-Paul HartAdministration and FinanceFrank MascariRena AllenPaul AnneeJohn BarthDan BootsDerek CahillCrista WellsMichael DilkMaggie LewisBrian MoweryAndy NielsenNick RobertsCommunity AffairsAli BrownPaul AnneeDerek CahillRon GibsonKeith GravesMichael-Paul HartKristin JonesVop OsiliNick RobertsEducationKeith GravesJosh BainJohn BarthDan BootsDerek CahillJessica McCormickBrian MoweryCarlos PerkinsLeroy RobinsonEnvironmental SustainabilityJohn BarthJesse BrownDerek CahillBrienne DelaneyMichael DilkMichael-Paul HartAndy NielsenCarlos PerkinsNick RobertsEthicsJessica McCormickPaul AnneeJosh BainMichael-Paul HartFrank MascariCarlos PerkinsInvestigativeCrista WellsRena AllenJosh BainKristin JonesJessica McCormickBrian MoweryAndy NielsenMetropolitan and Economic DevelopmentMaggie LewisPaul AnneeJohn BarthDerek CahillBrienne DelaneyJared EvansRon GibsonMichael-Paul HartKristin JonesBrian MoweryNick RobertsLeroy RobinsonMunicipal CorporationsJared EvansRena AllenJosh BainAli BrownJesse BrownMichael DilkJared EvansRon GibsonKeith GravesMichael-Paul HartKristin JonesBrian MoweryCarlos PerkinsParks and RecreationDan BootsPaul AnneeJosh BainDan BootsJesse BrownCrista WellsBrienne DelaneyMichael DilkJared EvansFrank MascariJessica McCormickPublic Safety and Criminal JusticeLeroy RobinsonCrista Wells (Vice Chair)Paul AnneeJosh BainDan BootsBrienne DelaneyKeith GravesMichael-Paul HartFrank MascariJessica McCormickBrian MoweryCarlos PerkinsPublic WorksKristin JonesJosh BainDan BootsDerek CahillCrista WellsMichael DilkJared EvansRon GibsonJessica McCormickBrian MoweryAndy NielsenNick RobertsRules and Public PolicyVop OsiliDan Boots (Vice Chair)Rena AllenPaul AnneeJosh BainAli BrownMichael DilkMichael-Paul HartMaggie LewisAndy NielsenCarlos PerkinsLeroy Robinson
Salary Members of the council earn an annual salary of $11,400, plus per diems of $112 per council meeting and $62 per committee meeting. Ordinance stipulates that annual base pay is capped at 12 percent of the mayor's salary ($95,000). In June 2022, councilors approved revisions to the ordinance for the first time in more than 20 years, increasing the annual salary to $31,075, in addition to per diems of $150 per council meeting and $75 per committee meeting. The ordinance will take effect in 2024, following the 2023 Indianapolis City-County Council election.
Pertinent issues Scooters Removal/Regulations Addressing Potholes Improve Downtown BlueIndy Equity and Equality Council Pay Raise
Former members
Rozelle Boyd (1965–2007) Roger W. Brown (1972–1976) Paul Cantwell (1970–1979) Jeff Cardwell (2008–2013) André Carson (2007–2008) Ray Crowe (1984–1987) Aaron Freeman (2010–2016) Phillip Hinkle (1992–2000) Glenn L. Howard (1975–1992) La Keisha Jackson (2014–2024) Blake Johnson (2016–2020) Cherrish Pryor (2007–2008) John C. Ruckelshaus (1971–1975) Jack Sandlin (2010–2016) Scott Schneider (2000–2008) Beurt SerVaas (1961–2002) Jefferson Shreve (2013–2016, 2018–2020) Mike Speedy (2004–2010)
See also Government of Indianapolis List of mayors of Indianapolis
Notes
References
External links Indianapolis City-County Council