THE 22ND MAYOR of Gary, Indiana, Eddie D. Melton, is sworn-in by Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. (Photo by Wesby Terrell Christopher)
Mark Spencer to remain in Gary City Council lineup after Wednesday night’s 3rd District Precinct Captains vote
On Saturday, December 30, 2023, the 2024 Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony showed that entertainment is not the only draw that will fill the auditorium at Gary’s West Side Leadership Academy.
The 2,000-seat arena was near capacity, about 1,800 attended said Mark Spencer, Director of the West Side Theatre Guild, to witness the city’s elected leaders take their oaths of office and celebrate the city’s future.
The last time all of Gary’s municipal leaders shared the stage at a joint swearing-in ceremony was in 2012 for the inauguration of Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.
“Since they’ve been sworn in together, maybe they’ll work together,” said Gary resident Richard Hayes.
“I’m pretty sure they will work together,” Lake County Clerk Mike Brown said. “As county clerk, I’ll do my part to work with them.”
“A hostile council” was handed to Mayor Jerome Prince when he took office in 2020 is how an article in the Saturday, December 30, 2023 Post Tribune described Prince’s term. It was published on his next to last day in office. In it former Mayor Prince reflected on his 4 years as mayor.
“I certainly attempted to work with that body,” Prince said. “That dynamic was clear very early on—I think at the first meeting—that was not going to be the case.” Deputy Mayor Trent McCain said seven of the nine incoming council members [in 2020] had supported the former mayor.
Mayor Eddie Melton won’t have that dilemma as six of the incoming council members were in his camp during the 2023 primary season.
There was no change in the Gary Common Council lineup Wednesday, January 3rd when Democratic precinct captains in Indiana’s 3rd District gathered to select a replacement to fill the state senate seat that Melton had to vacate.
District 3 includes parts of Gary, Lake Station, Merrillville, and Hobart. Melton supported Mark Spencer, the WSTG director and also one of Gary’s incoming at-large council members over Hobart’s Dave Vinzant.
After Wednesday night’s (January 3, 2024) vote, Spencer will remain in the City Council. Hobart’s Vinzant won by a vote of 34-32 to replace Melton in the Indiana State Senate for District 3. He will start Monday, January 8, 2024.
Each elected and appointed official was joined on stage by their family while taking the oath to the constitution and the citizens of Gary.
After nine city council members, the city judge, and the city clerk were sworn in, it was obvious the day belonged to Mayor Melton. Shouts of ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’ greeted him when it was his turn to take the oath. At the reception afterward, a long line of well-wishers waited to take a picture.
Among the well-wishers was the Gary Crusader Newspaper Publisher Dorothy R. Leavell, who said to Mayor Melton, “Congratulations on becoming the Mayor. We wish you great success and our support because of your proven dedication, commitment and integrity when it comes to what matters in Gary. And, we look forward to working together to build Gary by informing, engaging, and empowering the public as we have done since 1961 when the Gary Crusader was first established in Indiana.”
The mistress of the ceremony was Dr. Vanessa Allen McCloud, president and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. Dr. McCloud introduced and invited faith leaders, vocalists and dancers to the stage for jubilant presentations. Mayor-elect Eddie Melton was sworn in by Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. Special invited speakers included Representative Frank Mrvan and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett traveled to Gary to take part in the celebration. “If I know anything about Mayor Melton, I know he and I will stand in a similar place. And that is standing with those we are charged to serve. I come bearing a message, if we stay together and work together, we can change the direction of our state.”
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, Jr., from Indiana’s 1st Congressional District, said Melton has a record of getting things done. “When he arrived in Indianapolis, he was an instant leader. He has in his repertoire one of the greatest economic development accomplishments for northwest Indiana – moving Hard Rock Casino to I/80-94.”
Gary Crusader City Editor David Denson offered the following statement regarding the Melton Administration:
“I am optimistic regarding what the administration of Mayor Eddie Melton can and will do for the city of Gary. Mayor Melton is a true servant leader who has demonstrated his commitment to the people he serves. Prior to becoming mayor, Melton displayed strong visionary leadership during his time in the Indiana State Senate. I am quite sure we will witness the same dedication as he charts the course for his first 100 days and beyond. I encourage the citizens of Gary to join Mayor Melton in the revitalization of our city.”
“We must come together as a community to build a greater Gary,” Mayor Melton said in his inaugural address. “The truth of the matter is, no one is going to ride in on a horse and save the day for the city. We are the calvary. We are the ones who are going to transform this city. We have to do it together.”
Melton went back to his roots, growing up on 7th & Tyler and who walked to the Boys & Girls Club every day to “seek safety and have fun. If you were to ask that child of 30 years ago, he never would have believed you that he would be standing here today as the next mayor of Gary. But, here I am.”
Sworn in that day with Mayor Melton are Gary Common Council members Tai Adkins; Lori Lathan, Dwayne Halliburton; Mary Brown, Linda Barnes Caldwell, Dwight Williams, Ron Brewer, Darren Washington, and Mark Spencer; City Judge Deidre Monroe; and City Clerk Suzette Raggs.
Mayor Melton officially took office on January 1, 2024.
