Delores Brown, center, stands alongside as her husband Mike Brown is sworn in as City Councilman At-Large by Gary City Judge Deidre Monroe

Mike Brown is now a Gary City Councilman

Contributed By:The 411 News

Ragen Hatcher’s win in November’s General Election to represent the 3rd District in the Indiana House and term limits for office holders in Lake County government is bringing a new face to the Gary City Council.

Lake County Clerk Michael Brown was the top vote getter in Monday’s caucus of Democratic precinct captains to select a replacement for Hatcher, the former Gary councilman at-large. Brown will complete the last year of Hatcher’s term. He was selected over 5 other contestants: Carl Witherspoon, Jonathan Boose, Nate Williams, Robert Campbell, and Kendra Johnson.

Brown was sworn in at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Gary City Council, having resigned from the county clerk position earlier that day. Brown is ending his second term in that position and is term limited, not allowed to serve for more than 8 consecutive years.

Brown said public safety and economic development will be his focus.

It was among the opinions he shared on his first day in the council when he responded to comments from city residents disappointed about an economic development agreement between the city and Alliance Steel which the council was voting on. Residents voiced their opposition to the city allowing $1.2 million in tax abatements over 5 years to Alliance.

“Cities have done well with issues of tax abatements; like Hammond was able to steal Munster Steel from Munster because of abatements. We have to open our eyes and look at it from a business perspective. We have to be competitive with these other communities who are giving abatements; otherwise we’ll stay right here while communities around us will continue to grow,” Brown said.

Brown said he will be on the ballot in 2019 to retain his seat on Gary’s City Council.

Story Posted:12/09/2018