The reference in the story (and the accompanying headline) contain the nonsensical suggestion that the proposed committee amendment to Senate Bill 526 would cut the Republican majority on the council from 15-13 to 13-12. Obviously the move would not apply retroactively to those at large councilors already elected and who are in their fourth year of service. But it almost certainly would apply to those who hope to be elected in 2011.A House committee should vote either Thursday or next week on eliminating the four at-large council members. Those councillors usually ride into office on the coattails of the mayor, although only two of the four incumbents are Republicans. Minority Leader Joanne Sanders withstood the GOP tide which carried Republican Greg Ballard into office four years ago, while Ed Coleman switched to the Libertarian Party after being elected as a Republican.
Representative Phil Hinkle
(R) IndianapolisThe House Government Reform Committee is weighing a bill to merge the last surviving township fire departments in Marion County -- Pike, Wayne and Decatur -- into IFD. Committee Chairman Phil Hinkle (R-Indianapolis), a former councillor, argues it's important to make the council more independent of the mayor to provide a proper counterbalance to his increased power.Without the at-large seats, Republicans' current 15-13 council majority (with one Libertarian) would slip to 13-12....
Knowing Phil Hinkle's independent streak, I take him at his word that he would like the Council to be less of a rubber stamp for the Indianapolis Mayor, regardless of party. But make no mistake about it...those four at-large seats for now to the foreseeable future will be held by Democrats. Getting rid of the at-large seats means four less Democrats and gives the Republicans a chance - albeit an outside chance - of holding onto the council.
The Democrats spent thirty years dealing with Republican majorities on the Indianapolis City-County Council which were assisted in no small part by the ever present four at-large Republican councilors. That changed in 2003, when the Democrats won all four at-large seats on the council. It bounced back in 2007 when Republicans won three of the four at large seats. (Republican Ed Coleman later left to become a Libertarian). The strong Democratic majority in the county though means that for the foreseeable future, those four at-large seats will almost always be controlled by Democrats.
This is an issue that could easily cause the Democrats to return to Urbana. The Democrats are not likely to sit by and risk permanently losing four at-large Indianapolis council members, members who could tip the balance of control on the council.
The Democrats spent thirty years dealing with Republican majorities on the Indianapolis City-County Council which were assisted in no small part by the ever present four at-large Republican councilors. That changed in 2003, when the Democrats won all four at-large seats on the council. It bounced back in 2007 when Republicans won three of the four at large seats. (Republican Ed Coleman later left to become a Libertarian). The strong Democratic majority in the county though means that for the foreseeable future, those four at-large seats will almost always be controlled by Democrats.
This is an issue that could easily cause the Democrats to return to Urbana. The Democrats are not likely to sit by and risk permanently losing four at-large Indianapolis council members, members who could tip the balance of control on the council.