Lake County Democrats will choose who fills two vacant seats on the Gary Common Council during a closed caucus Thursday evening, with seven candidates competing for the positions.

One vacancy opened after the October death of longtime 3rd District Councilwoman Mary Brown. The second will open when Council Vice President Darren Washington leaves the council to take his newly elected seat on the Lake County Council.

Washington won the Nov. 3 District 2 election with 75.44% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Lake County Board of Elections. He received 13,322 votes, compared with 4,338 for Republican challenger Bradley Hutchison.

The caucus is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. It is not open to the public, according to Capital B Gary. Eligible Democratic precinct committee members, rather than residents, will select the replacements.

Who's running

Oliver Gilliam, Norman Hairston and Kerry Rice are seeking Brown's 3rd District seat, according to a candidate list provided to Capital B Gary by Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Repay.

Brown died Oct. 5 after representing the district for more than 25 years. The City of Gary described her as a longtime advocate for 3rd District residents, noting her more than two decades of public service.

Gilliam told the Post-Tribune he wants to continue work Brown left unfinished, including efforts to eliminate blight and encourage development in the district.

Rice, a former police officer who ran for Gary mayor in the May 2019 Democratic primary, said public safety is his top priority. He told the Post-Tribune that creating a safer environment would help the city attract businesses.

“Public safety is the main thing we should get under control if the city is going to grow like it should,” Rice said.

Hairston previously served on the Genesis Convention Center board and ran for Lake County Council in 2024, losing to Washington. He filed for both the 3rd District and at-large seats.

For the at-large position, Hairston is joined by LaJuan Clemons, Jeremiah King, LaVetta Sparks-Wade and Marcus Williams.

Clemons is vice president of the Gary Redevelopment Commission and CEO of the Gary Regional Food Collective. He told the Post-Tribune he wants to focus on the city budget, which faces a projected $9.8 million gap in 2027.

Capital B Gary reported in October that Mayor Eddie Melton proposed a $98 million budget for 2027, while city revenue was projected to fall to $88.2 million. The administration was considering options including tax increment financing to help close the gap. The Capital B budget report details the city's financial challenges and concerns about relying on development funds to cover operating costs.

King, a former president of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana's Young Professionals auxiliary, told the Post-Tribune he wants to be part of what he called the “reemergence of the city.” He said he hopes to empower residents and improve quality of life.

Sparks-Wade is a former Gary councilwoman and parks director. She ran against U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan in the May Democratic primary.

The Post-Tribune reported that Hairston, Sparks-Wade and Williams did not respond to its requests for comment.

How the vote works

Only seven precinct committee members are eligible to vote on the 3rd District seat. Forty-five are eligible to vote on the at-large position, Repay told Capital B Gary.

Under Indiana Code 3-13-11-10, a caucus must select a replacement by a majority vote of members casting ballots. When more than one person is seeking the vacancy, the selection must be conducted by secret ballot.

If no candidate receives a majority, members must vote again until someone does, Capital B Gary reported.

The 3rd District winner will be seated immediately. The at-large winner will take office Jan. 1, when Washington's departure creates the vacancy.

The caucus process has been used repeatedly to fill vacancies on the nine-member council. Capital B Gary reported that precinct committee members have selected replacements at least eight times since 2022. Three current council members — Marian Ivey, Kenneth Whisenton and Myles Tollver — were seated through the process.

A separate caucus for the 6th District seat held by Councilman Dwight Williams is scheduled for Nov. 21, Repay told the Post-Tribune. Williams also won his Nov. 3 race for Lake County Council District 3, receiving 75.99% of the vote, according to the county election results.