Indianapolis City-County Councilor Crista Carlino Leaves Caucus

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis City-County Councilor Crista Carlino announced that she is stepping away from the Democratic caucus following internal conflict and a call for Mayor Joe Hogsett to resign.

Carlino told reporters Monday night that she will continue to serve in her role as District 11 representative, but will not be caucusing with either party “for the foreseeable future.”

“For me, lack of leadership, abuse of power, and an inequitable application of the caucus rules,” Carlino said of her reasoning for leaving the Democratic caucus. “I feel like I’m justified in stepping away for that reason.”

Carlino faced criticism after calling for the resignation of Mayor Joe Hogsett and the removal of Council President Vop Osili and Vice President Ali Brown from their roles. After being voted out of the caucus, Carlino offered an apology that prevented her from a formal removal.

There have been ongoing concerns from some council members over the independent report released by Fisher Phillips, the law firm hired by council to investigate Mayor Hogsett’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against his former aide, Thomas Cook.

A motion to remove Osili and Brown from their leadership roles was brought to the floor during the council meeting Monday. Only four councilors voted to remove them: Republicans Josh Bain and Michael Paul-Hart and Democrats Jesse Brown and Crista Carlino.

Councilor Brown said after the vote that he will be bringing the motion back again next month.