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Indianapolis Star
08-07-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Hamilton County man enjoys flexibility of working from home
WESTFIELD Christopher Bates looks out from his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He works remotely for H.B. Fuller. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates works remotely in his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates works remotely in his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates works remotely in his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates works remotely in his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates works remotely in his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Christopher Bates looks out from his home office Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Westfield. He works remotely for H.B. Fuller. He and his family recently moved to Hamilton County and used the company that helps people with relocation. The company partners with the Indy Chamber to offer incentives and practical assistance for people to relocate to Indianapolis and the area. Even though he is from the area, and he knows the area, the MakeMyMove still gave helpful assistance. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar
Indianapolis Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Joe Hogsett wants to move past harassment scandal. Many aren't sure he can
Where does Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett go from here? The fallout over his handling of sexual harassment claims against his former right-hand man has put the mayor in a precarious political situation with two and a half years remaining in his third term. A growing chorus of local elected officials, community leaders and members of the public are calling for him to resign or criticizing his leadership. As the scandal overshadows other city initiatives, some are questioning the mayor's ability to effectively perform even the ceremonial aspects of the job. And former members of the administration are making explosive claims about what they describe as a "toxic" workplace culture under Hogsett. Hogsett, who has repeatedly said he won't resign, couldn't escape the situation at a typically cordial Indy Chamber "Meet the Mayors" event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 18, where he was asked in front of a roomful of business leaders whether the scandal had damaged the city's reputation. Hogsett said "political rhetoric" has distracted people, "but I can tell you what I focus on, and that is making Indianapolis work." But that's becoming harder than it was before. Faith leaders recently asked the mayor not to attend a press conference for what was supposed to be a big public win for his administration: securing housing for more people who are homeless. Instead, city officials canceled the event. And City-County Council Democrats, who have a supermajority on the council and have at times acted as little more than a rubber stamp for Hogsett, are exerting more leverage and opposition than ever before. Though most councilors haven't called for Hogsett to resign, the 18-member Democratic caucus released a statement saying his conduct has "weakened the moral authority of the office." "If he survives what is right now — at minimum — chaos, it makes (governing) a lot harder, frankly," said Laura Merrifield Wilson, associate professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis. "This may not be the definition of his legacy, but it's going to be top three, no matter how many successes he can rake in in the next few years." City-County Council members can't remove Hogsett from office — only state lawmakers can do that, which is highly unlikely to occur. But the fallout could weaken his ability to govern and dampen his potential to win over voters for a fourth term, should he decide to run again in 2027. In a recent interview with IndyStar, Hogsett said the spectacle is detracting from his commitments to protect workers following an outside law firm's investigation into the mayor's former top aide, Thomas Cook, who faced allegations of harassment or assault from three women while working for Hogsett. "We're collectively losing sight of what is most important, and that's continuing to create a safer, more accountable working environment for all city employees," Hogsett said. "That is my focus. That is my standard. And that's what I'll stick to." More: A 'fraternity' culture and an 'opportunity' for self-dealing: 6 insights from Hogsett investigation Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson, a fellow Democrat who has helped campaign in the past for the mayor, said the "serious allegations" have "taken away from what we really need to be doing in our communities." She stopped short of calling for Hogsett to resign, but described the city as "kind of stuck" under his leadership. Democratic City-County Councilor John Barth agreed the issue is pulling the focus away from other city business. But he said it would be wrong to call it a distraction. Still, he lamented the lack of media attention on roughly $27 million in hard-won funding as part of a spring fiscal package that included $13 million for road and drainage improvements, $4 million for new snow-plowing equipment and contracts, and $600,000 to the literacy tutoring program Circle City Readers. The next day's headlines were instead about how City-County Council President Vop Osili ordered sheriff's deputies to forcibly remove Lauren Roberts, a Cook accuser, while she tried to share concerns about the law firm's investigation. 'It's an important issue we have to resolve,' Barth said of the harassment allegations. 'With what these survivors have dealt with, and their relentlessness in making sure their stories are heard, it's our responsibility to ensure that their voices are heard and that we take action.' More: Attorney: Hogsett probe omitted 'uncomfortable' texts from mayor, contradicted women's claims It remains to be seen whether Hogsett can retain the support he needs to do his job or if that foundation continues to erode. Calls for his resignation have been growing, while vocal support is muted. Three council members voted in as Democrats — Jesse Brown, Andy Nielsen and Crista Carlino — and one Republican, Joshua Bain, have now called for the mayor to resign. Out of 25 councilors, only one — Democrat Ron Gibson — has vocally defended the mayor. Rev. David Greene, part of the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance that called for Hogsett not to speak at the housing press conference, said the mayor's resignation would be an act of moral clarity about what's best for Indianapolis. 'We need to move forward, and I don't see how he can do it in his role when ultimately, from a leadership perspective, a lot of this went on under his watch,' Greene told IndyStar. 'He helped create the culture in which this took place. It's hard to fix a culture that you created.' The City-County Council is working to pass reforms meant to protect employees from workplace harassment. That includes establishing an outside inspector general's office to investigate city policy violations, overhauling the city's human resources department to ensure independence, and revamping anti-harassment training and reporting systems. But Barth said he doubts how effective systemic changes will be without credible leadership. 'You can have best practices all day long,' Barth said, 'but if the tone at the top and the clarity around expectations, around culture, aren't managed by those who are leading the city, and the mayor specifically, I would be concerned about how effective those structural changes would be.' More: 'We won't allow facts to be buried': Hogsett investigative report omissions raise concerns While councilors consider reforms and mull over calls for Hogsett to step down, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the saga. What started as a scandal familiar mainly to political insiders exploded into wider view with the now-viral June 9 episode at the City-County Council meeting where Roberts was pushed out by sheriff's deputies. Hogsett called the incident "regrettable." Then the Indianapolis Business Journal, a publication read by the city's top movers and shakers, also called on Hogsett to resign in a recent editorial. Even Indiana Gov. Mike Braun recently said on a radio show that he had become aware of the scandal and said it looked like things were "getting dicey" for the mayor. Marshawn Wolley, president and CEO of management consultant Black Onyx Management, said the controversy recently came up among his employees. "I have a team of talented women," Wolley said. "They shared their stories of having to carry the burden of experiencing unwanted attention or frankly sexual harassment, but then having to maybe not tell their stories out of fear of repercussions that could come." He said he couldn't speak on Hogsett's ability to continue to lead the city, but said leaders are ultimately responsible in making sure their workplaces are safe. "I'm thinking about it as a business owner," Wolley said. Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell, who has been a longtime political ally of the mayor, acknowledged Hogsett has taken a reputational hit from this situation. "I imagine his phone is not ringing off the hook right now," she said. But she still thinks he can govern. Sweeney Bell said the mayor has "asked and answered" the calls for resignation, and now he has to carry on and keep working. "None of us have a time machine," Sweeney Bell said. "If we did, I don't think there's anyone who's an elected official who wouldn't go back and try to make a change. Just because there are some people who are dissatisfied doesn't mean he gets to stop doing his job. The work of the government goes on. All of the things that are on his plate are still on his plate." There are already signs that governing is becoming harder, though. The council is asserting new leverage in its relationship with the Hogsett administration through new anti-harassment policies, tougher negotiations over city budgeting and the recent rejection of multiple mayoral appointments. The council rejected Lena Hill, the mayor's appointment to lead the Office of Public Health and Safety, after employees came forward claiming that Hill mistreated them. Amid community backlash, the mayor also withdrew his pick to lead the Indianapolis Animal Care Services agency, Kelly Diamond. Negotiating next year's budget will be an upcoming inflection point. Typically, Barth said, the mayor's office presents the council with a fully formed spending plan in August, and any tweaks are made in the subsequent weeks before a final council vote in October. Starting with this year's spring fiscal package — the allotment of $27 million in additional supplemental income tax revenue that wasn't anticipated in last year's budgeting — councilors are demanding to be involved earlier to address their constituents' pleas for how the city should spend taxpayer dollars, Barth said. Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who leads the council's six Republicans, said it's been refreshing to see council Democrats push back on the Hogsett administration. He doesn't plan to join them in calling for the mayor to step down, however, because he doesn't want to be 'theatrical.' Since the council lacks the authority to formally remove the mayor and Hogsett intends to stay in office, Hart is trying to stay focused on policy issues like snow removal, road repairs and homelessness. Hart does worry, however, about the high turnover he has observed among city staff and whether new employees will want to join an administration facing high-profile harassment complaints. 'If we can't get people to want to work for the city,' Hart said, 'then the city can't provide the adequate quality of life that people want in the city of Indianapolis.' Indy Chamber CEO Matt Mindrum said responding to the sexual harassment allegations deserves the council's and the mayor's "full attention." But he urged city leaders to find a swift solution so they can shift their focus back to Indianapolis' broader growth and success during a pivotal moment for the city. "It's hard to imagine a moment of greater visibility and opportunity for Indianapolis," Mindrum said in a statement, "and we need to be firing on all cylinders to make the most of it." Email IndyStar Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@ Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09
