INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) has announced that she will run for mayor of Indianapolis next year.
If elected, she would be the city's first Black and female mayor.
"As I weighed my decision to run, fueled by close friends and family, some asked me why I was even considering it. I have a fulfilling, successful tenure of service in the Indiana General Assembly. It came down to one phrase that kept running through my head: 'We can do better,'" Shackleford said during her announcement.
"Indianapolis is a tale of two cities – one with good roads, where residents don’t worry about putting food on the table and feel safe in their homes - and another with pothole-ridden streets where residents struggle to get enough to eat and worry that at any moment a stray bullet will travel through their wall and strike their child," she added.
The full announcement can be viewed below.
Shackleford said she plans to focus on tackling crime in the city by addressing its root causes, warding off gun violence and increasing youth engagement and improving the relationship between citizens and police.
She also emphasized making healthcare more affordable and food more accessible.
Shackleford represents Indiana's 98th district, which is on Indianapolis' east side. She was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves as the ranking minority member of the public health committee.
She is also on the Courts and Criminal Code and the Financial Institutions and Insurance committees.
Shackleford previously served as chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and vice president of the Indiana POWER Caucus and worked as the diversity affairs director under former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and as a policy and research specialist for the Indiana Health Care Association.
Joe Hogsett, Indianapolis' current and 49th mayor, took office in 2016. Before that, he served as Indiana's secretary of state and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
Hogsett has not said whether he plans to run for reelection.
-
Indianapolis Sheraton City Centre to renovate, rebrand as Renaissance hotel
The Keystone Group has acquired the 21-story Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel near Monument Circle in preparation to update the hotel.
Richard Childress Racing suspends use of Kyle Busch's No. 8 car
Richard Childress Racing is suspending the use of the No. 8 car in the NASCAR Cup Series following Kyle Busch's death.
Indianapolis police chase ends in arrest of 1 adult and 1 juvenile; 4 guns found
Seventy-six officers were present Thursday afternoon at the 1400 block of South Madison Avenue after a traffic stop turned into a police chase, leading to two arrests.
Josef Newgarden leads speed chart on Carb Day
Drivers had one last chance to get on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carb Day on Friday ahead of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
