IPS drama at center of Democratic City-County councilor caucus ousting

Outspoken Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jesse Brown has been kicked out of the Democratic caucus. Brown commented on the move after Monday night’s council meeting saying his commitment to transparency put him at odds with other councilors.

The decision may stem from a disagreement over Indianapolis Public Schools. Last week Brown called out three fellow Democratic councilors for pushing the district to share more resources with charter schools.

In a letter after he was ejected from the caucus, Brown pointed to that disagreement: “My constituents deserve fully funded, fully public education.”

Brown named three of his colleagues who voted along with ten others to remove him from the caucus.  Democrats hold a supermajority on the 25-seat City-County Council.

“My call-out of so-called Democrats Maggie Lewis, Carlos Perkins, and Leroy Robinson’s subterfuge was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back,” Brown wrote.

Last month, the three council members stood alongside two former Indianapolis mayors to urge Indianapolis Public Schools to address financial and operational challenges and share resources with charter schools. 

The fight is playing out as IPS faces an existential threat at the Indiana Statehouse. One legislative proposal would dissolve the district and convert its campuses to charter schools. Another bill would take student transportation and management of facilities out of the district's hands. Although neither bill has been heard yet, they have ignited a firestorm of opposition.

Dozens of parents and community members spoke at the IPS board meeting last week -- which Brown attended -- and criticized several board members for having connections to pro-charter groups and accepting money from them.

“You sit on board seats purchased by rich white men who are using you to oppress the community so they can make a buck,” Christina Smith, an IPS parent and public school advocate, said at the meeting.

Devyn Naylor doesn’t live in Brown’s district, but showed up with a group of supporters at the City-County Building Tuesday afternoon. He and many others were expecting to hear more about Brown being removed from the caucus. Naylor said he was disappointed.

“People vote for Jesse because they thought he would be able to serve them and get on committees and talk about issues they cared about,” Naylor said. “Then without even talking to his representatives, they just get him off the committees and get him off the Democratic caucus.”

A statement from the Indianapolis City-County Council Democratic Caucus said Brown’s actions conflict with caucus principles.

“After careful consideration, we have determined that it is in the best interest of the caucus—and the constituents we serve—for this individual to continue acting as an independent council member rather than part of our caucus,” the caucus statement read.

Similar moves were made against former Democrat councilor Ethan Evans. The Democratic leadership removed Evans from a committee he served on and launched an internal party investigation into him before he declared himself an independent on the council.

Jesse Brown will keep his seat on the council representing the near eastside.