Marsiglio steps down, endorses Shackleford in Indianapolis mayoral race

Indianapolis mayoral candidate Clif Marsiglio announced Friday he will step away from the race, choosing instead to back Democratic State Rep. Robin Shackleford’s bid for the seat.

Marsiglio said it’s important for him to support a candidate he believes is interested in addressing infrastructure problems, mental health supports, and substance abuse in the city.

“I can’t think of a better person to help me shepherd these ideas into play than Robin,” he said.

Shackleford, who is believed to be the strongest primary competition current mayor Joe Hogsett has faced, said Marsiglio will join her campaign to help advise her on some of those key issues.

“Thank you for running and bringing up those challenges and those issues that not only you wanted the Democratic party to look at, you wanted the city to look at,” she told Marsiglio.

Following the brief announcement, Shackleford also unveiled her Indy for All plan, which she said is aimed at making the city more inclusive.

“This city is a tale of two cities between the haves and have nots,” she said. “We see many racial disparities and many barriers that affect not only Black people but brown people.”

The plan includes appointing a diversity advocate in each city department and instituting a focused minority hiring strategy for all city departments, among other initiatives.

In March, mayoral candidate Gregory Meriweather also ended his campaign and announced his support for Shackleford.

The primary election is May 2.  Early voting began at the Indianapolis City-County Building on April 4 and will continue there through May 1. Additional early voting centers throughout Marion County will open on April 22 and close on April 30.