Jesse Brown (Indiana politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jesse Brown

| office = Member of the Indianapolis City-County Council
from the 13th District

| nationality = American

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1986}}{{cite web |title=Meet the candidates running for City-County Council District 13 |url=https://indianapolisrecorder.com/meet-the-candidates-running-for-city-county-council-district-13/|access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Indianapolis Recorder}}

| term_start = January 1, 2024

| birth_name =

| spouse = Mary Kate Dugan

| education = Indiana University, Indianapolis

| profession =

| residence = Indianapolis, Indiana

| predecessor = Zach Adamson

| otherparty = Democratic Socialists of America

| image = Jesse Brown (crop).jpg

}}

Jesse Brown (born 1986) is an American politician and former teacher from Indianapolis, Indiana currently serving on the Indianapolis City-County Council for the 13th District, representing portions of Downtown Indianapolis, Martindale–Brightwood, Near Northside, Near Eastside, Eastside, Christian Park and Irvington.{{cite web |url=https://www.indy.gov/activity/proposed-2024-council-district-map |title=2024 Council District Map |last= |first= |date= |website=Indy.gov |publisher=IndyGiS |access-date=January 2, 2024}} On November 7, 2023, Brown was elected to the Indianapolis City-County Council with 78% of the total vote.{{cite web |last1=Cheang |first1=Ko Lyn |title=Republicans gain one seat as Democrats retain supermajority on Indy City-County Council. |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/11/07/indianapolis-city-county-council-election-2023-results-analysis/71424103007/ |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=IndyStar}} He is a member of the Indianapolis-affiliate of the Democratic Socialists of America, which endorsed him during the 2023 election.{{cite web|date=2023-11-10|url=https://electoral.dsausa.org/wins-from-coast-to-coast/|title=Wins from coast to coast! |website=DSA National Electoral Commission |access-date=1 January 2024}}

Education and early career

Brown graduated from Cathedral High School in 2004. In 2010 he graduated from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis where he later received a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology.{{cite web|title=Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, District 13|url=https://indianacitizen.org/vb/candidatebio/jesse-brown/|access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=The Indiana Citizen}} He worked as a high school teacher at a charter school. Brown moved to his neighborhood approximately 15 years ago and currently works with nonprofit human services.{{cite web |title=Meet the candidates running for City-County Council District 13|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/meet-the-candidate-for-city-county-council-district-13?preview=1|access-date=1 January 2023 |website=wfyi}}

Political activism and election

Brown formed and filed his Committee Organization for election on January 4 with the Marion County Clerk. In a video posted to X on January he announced his candidacy publicly.{{Cite tweet |user=lizmjohns |number=1610725852433588224 |title=Brown Announces Candidacy for District 13}} In April 2023 he spoke out against the appointment of Greg Hill over Nichelle Hayes as CEO of the Indianapolis Public Library.{{cite web |last1=McGowan |first1=Chloe |title=Indianapolis Public Library board appoints new CEO behind closed doors |url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indianapolis-public-library-board-appoints-new-ceo-behind-closed-doors |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=WFYI}}

While an outspoken supporter of labor, Brown's opponent Council Vice President Zach Adamson secured the endorsements of numerous labor organizations affiliated with the Indianapolis AFL-CIO.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Briggs |title=Primaries test union grip on Indianapolis Democrats|url=https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2023/04/28/indianapolis-council-kristin-jones-david-ray-zach-adamson|access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Axios}} Adamson also earned the endorsement of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. Brown's opponent gained the endorsements of several influential leaders in Indianapolis politics, including the former chairs of the Marion County Democratic Party; Joel Miller and Kate Sweeney Bell. Incumbent Prosecutor Ryan Mears, County Treasurer Barbara Lawrence, Assessor Joe O’Connor, Council President Vop Osili and Majority Leader Maggie Lewis also threw their support behind Adamson.{{cite web|title=Endorsement for Zach Adamson|url=https://www.adamsonforindy.com/endorsements|access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Adamson For Indy}} Brown raised around $20,000, while Adamson raised approximately $77,000.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Briggs |title=Primaries test union grip on Indianapolis Democrats|url=https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2023/04/28/indianapolis-council-kristin-jones-david-ray-zach-adamson|access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Axios}} Brown defeated Adamson in the May 2 primary election, securing 1,790 votes (55.94%).{{cite web|date=2023-05-02|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/2023-marion-county-primary-election-results-preliminary|title=2023 Marion County primary election results (preliminary) |website=wfyi |access-date=1 January 2024}}

Brown joined with sitting councilors and future councilors Andy Nielsen, Brienne Delaney and Nick Roberts to practice picket with Teamsters Local 135 during contract negotiations with United Parcel Service.{{Cite tweet |user=JesseForIndy |number=1681685723060092931 |title=Brown at Teamsters 135 practice picket }} Brown defeated Libertarian candidate Elizabeth Glass on the November 7 general election, securing 5,479 votes (77.79%).

Brown was assigned in 2024 to the committees on Environmental Sustainability, Municipal Corporations and Parks and Recreation.{{Cite web |title=Committees of the Council|url=https://www.indy.gov/activity/committees-of-the-council|access-date=2024-01-10|website=www.indy.gov |language=en}}

Brown publicly called on Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to resign on August 7, following accusations of sexual misconduct against Hogsett's former chief of staff.{{Cite web |last=McDaniel |first=Michael |title=Indy councilor calls on Mayor Hogsett to resign over handling of sex harassment accusations |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2024/08/08/jesse-brown-demands-indianapolis-mayor-joe-hogsett-resign-thomas-cook-sexual-harassment-accusations/74714804007/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}

Electoral history

=2023=

{{Election box begin no change| title = Democratic primary for Indianapolis City-County Council District 13}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jesse Brown

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,790

| percentage = 55.94%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Zach Adamson (Incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,410

| percentage = 44.06%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,200

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = Indianapolis City-County Council District 13}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jesse Brown

|votes = 5,479

|percentage = 77.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Elizabeth Glass

|votes = 1,564

|percentage = 22.21%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 7,043

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

References

External links

[https://ballotpedia.org/Jesse_Brown_(Indiana) Jesse Brown] on Ballotpedia

Category:Living people

Category:Indiana Democrats

Category:Indianapolis City-County Council members

Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Indiana

Category:1986 births

Category:21st-century Indiana politicians

Category:Indiana politicians