Jackson To Fill Vacant Council Seat

The Indianapolis City County Council has a new member.

LaKeisha Jackson is taking over the District 18 seat that became vacant after former councilor Vernon Brown stepped down.

"I am excited to be a part of the City Council and am looking forward to working with Council members to make positive strides in our community and improve the city that I love and where I am engaged," said Jackson.

Jackson is the executive director of Pathway Resource Center and is a two-time recipient of the Mayor’s Community Service Award.

She has served on various neighborhood groups and organizations on the city’s far eastside, as well.

Jackson has never held political office, but believes her community experience will help her lead as a councilor.

"Having a grassroots knowledge of the constituents, being amongst them, working with them, walking hand-in-hand with them, trying to resolve issues right there within the community, I think that can translate," she said.

But, Jackson acknowledges there is a change of pace when it comes to working on the council.

"I understand government moves a lot slower than we like things on a local and a ground level to move," she said.  "But, just being able to reach that medium and that balance, just to make sure I move things forward, I help with policy, I help with changes, and I help with the bigger body here, the smaller voices here in the community."

Jackson says she has already starting working in her new position and will sit on her first council meeting September 8th.