The Gary Common Council will have nine members again after Friday, ending a string of caucuses that have shifted public officials around since January.
Three candidates are vying for the open at-large position: Robert Buggs, David Fossett and Myles Tolliver.
A caucus had to be scheduled after Councilwoman Marian Ivey, D-4th, moved between positions. Ivey took the Fourth District seat in a Feb. 19 caucus, which had to be called after Calumet Township Trustee Tai Adkins resigned from the council.
Lake County Commissioner Mike Repay, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said the at-large caucus will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. in Gary.
Buggs told the Post-Tribune Wednesday that his perspective will be beneficial for the council if he wins Friday.
“If I was on the council, of course I would just be one vote, but I would advocate for what’s going to benefit the citizens of Gary,” Buggs said.
Buggs has run in multiple caucuses, most recently in April 2024, when he ran for the at-large position that Ivey originally won.
He plans to focus on the construction of the Lake County Convention Center, which he argues will not help Gary because, if awarded, it would be located in the Gary/Chicago International Airport’s TIF district. He believes the convention center money won’t help the city’s infrastructure like residents believe.
Buggs is also against the sale of U.S. Steel, saying it would be detrimental to U.S. safety and security. Former President Joe Biden blocked the sale in January, but President Donald Trump said in February that Nippon Steel could make an “investment, rather than a purchase” in the U.S. company.
He plans to advocate for residents on these, and more state and national, issues that impact Gary.
“I believe in being knowledgeable about the position you’re in, which is to be a government official that’s going to be making decisions for everybody in Gary, the future of Gary and the children of Gary,” Buggs said.
Fossett and Tolliver did not respond to the Post-Tribune’s requests for comment Wednesday. Both candidates also ran in the at-large caucus in April 2024.
Fossett was previously caucused in the Second District council position in December 2022 and served through the end of 2023, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Forty-nine committee people are eligible to vote in Friday’s at-large caucus. If another elected official prevails, the Lake County Democratic Party would have to host another caucus, but none are currently serving in public office.
The Gary Common Council has been down one member since Jan. 21, when Adkins resigned following the body’s meeting. Adkins was elected Calumet Township trustee Jan. 16 after former Trustee Kim Robinson resigned from the position, which was part of a deal when she pleaded guilty on Dec. 23 to one count of wire fraud in Hammond’s U.S. District Court.
Robinson is the third consecutive township trustee to face federal charges. If the plea deal is accepted, she will serve one year of probation and have to repay $11,200, plus an $8,700 fine, according to Post-Tribune archives.
