Democrat Jocelyn Vare, an at-large member of the Fishers City Council, has issued an open letter to the new Democrat that will soon take office on the council, sharply critical of her Republican colleagues.
North Central District Councilor Samantha DeLong, also a Democrat, is moving out of Indiana and resigning from the council. A caucus of Democrat precinct officials will caucus in a few days to select Ms. DeLong’s successor.
Vare has written the open letter to whomever will take over the North Central council seat, and has used that opportunity to take issue with GOP council members.
“Unfortunately, I routinely experience reluctance from our City Council Republican colleagues to address important, non-partisan city issues,” Vare says in her letter. “For example, I’ve seen firsthand their reluctance to address Open Door Law compliance concerns that obstruct government transparency. I’ve seen their reluctance to improve the way the City Council appoints citizens to boards and commissions, even when failing to do so risks the integrity and diversity of our local government. I’ve seen their reluctance to supervise the State Road 37 construction project even though it is currently $40 million over budget. I’ve seen their reluctance to critique the Fishers Health Department, a new department of city government created hastily during the pandemic. They seem reluctant to oversee municipal spending of taxpayer funds, even though such oversight is the cornerstone of fiscal responsibility.”
Vare claims Republicans on the council “feel uncomfortable” with Democrats serving for the first time in anyone’s memory.
“A bipartisan legislative body is a new opportunity for lively debates on how to achieve the best outcomes for the city,” writes Vare. “But it requires an acceptance of diverse perspectives in order to be productive.”
“Multiple” instances are cited by Vare in her letter where the city failed to provide information she has requested.
“If I raise a constituent’s concern to the City Council but receive silence in response, I keep using my voice,” according to Vare. “And if another council member tells me that I am overstepping when I demand better for our city, I know that demanding better is exactly my job.”
Vare praises DeLong and the job she did in her tenure on the council dealing with a pandemic, but also cited the “partisan obstacles” Democrats have faced serving on the council.