Indianapolis Democrats vying for new District 14 council in Irvington

A minimum of two Democrats are vying for the council seat representing the brand new District 14 on the east facet of Indianapolis. 

Political newcomer Andy Nielsen, a senior coverage analyst on the Indiana Neighborhood Motion Poverty Institute, introduced his candidacy this week. He faces councilor David Ray, who stated he’ll search a 3rd time period. 

The brand new District 14 options Irvington and stretches all the best way to the far east facet alongside Mitthoeffer Street, a primarily Democratic space.

It is one in all three districts wherein two sitting Democratic metropolis councilors had been drawn into the identical space: city-county councilor Jason Larrison was drawn into the brand new District 14 with Ray, however stated he is not going to search reelection.

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Nielsen, who has lived in Irvington 4 years together with his spouse, serves as treasurer of the Irvington Improvement Group. The nonprofit assists with financial improvement and housing within the space.

“I had some neighbors who had been encouraging me to take a look at operating,” Nielsen stated. “And after some additional consideration, I consider I might be candidate and could be metropolis councilor.”

Nielsen stated he desires to concentrate on making the realm’s streets and sidewalks safer — issues over Irvington’s pedestrian security elevated after a 7-year-old woman was killed crossing the road final yr. 

“We achieve this by enhancing, filling potholes as quickly as they seem,” he stated. “However that is additionally about adapting visitors patterns to satisfy the precise flows which are shifting by way of our neighborhood.” 

Nielsen additionally desires to concentrate on inexpensive housing and the alternatives arising from the incoming fast bus transit Blue Line deliberate alongside Washington Road. 

“We have to take the teachings discovered from when the Purple Line was getting into and say, ‘There was an impression on small companies, so what are we going to do to assist them out?’” he stated. 

Sitting councilor Ray, in the meantime, stated he plans to run for his third time period. 

Ray, first elected to the council in 2015, has been a comparatively quiet member of the council — he stated he spends plenty of his time understanding constituent issues and different questions previous to the council’s prolonged conferences. 

“I am not utilizing town council place to catapult me into bigger and larger issues, I feel that is my calling,” he stated. “That is so far as I will go.”

Ray was born and raised in Irvington and graduated from Scecina Memorial Excessive Faculty — the place his eldest son not too long ago graduated final week. 

He provides a strong union presence to the council, having labored in an administrative position with the native Worldwide Brotherhood of Electrical Staff union since 2007. 

Throughout his time on the council, Ray famous, town has funded the realm’s Pennsy Path and the council handed a accountable bidder ordinance to stop bad-acting contractors from profitable public bids.

Trying forward, Ray stated he desires to concentrate on public security, infrastructure and the realm’s promising financial improvement that might are available in parallel with the Blue Line. 

“There’s going to be plenty of alternatives for improvement, and having conversations with downtown, having conversations with builders,” he stated. 

Metropolis-county council elections are in 2023. 

Name IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or electronic mail her at apakharvey@indystar.com. Comply with her on Twitter @AmeliaPakHarvey.