Community Connection - May 4 2026 - Tina Cosby with Cordelia Lewis-Burks Ryan Mears Claudette Peterson and Demetrice Hicks - Community Connection With Tina Cosby

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Boldly moving Indy forward. It's Community Connection with Tina Cosby,
brought to you by Child's Advocates, a champion for justice,
opportunity and well being for children. On Praise AM thirteen
ten ninety five point What FM and good afternoon.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to Community Connection. I am Tina Cosby. Today is Monday,
May the fourth. Happy birthday Miles Man and May the
fourth be with you. Also, Happy birthday to a young
mister Jones. May the fourth be with you as well.
A busy day for birthdays, but a fun one to have,
especially if you are a Star Wars fan. And I
do believe the last two I just wished happy birthday.

(00:37):
Are Star Wars fans? Are you a Star Wars fan?

Speaker 3 (00:40):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (00:40):
I love Star Wars?

Speaker 5 (00:41):
Yea, yeah.

Speaker 4 (00:42):
I had some of the.

Speaker 6 (00:43):
Action figures, which I still had them because they're worth
money now, you know.

Speaker 7 (00:47):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
My son called me early this morning and I thought
something was wrong. Something He doesn't call me at seven
o'clock in the morning, and he wanted to know had
I seen any of.

Speaker 7 (00:57):
His Pokemon on the Pokemon old cards.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
When he was younger, he used to collect them all
and he asked, have I seen him lately, and I'm
like seven o'clock in the morning.

Speaker 7 (01:05):
Is that what's on your mind?

Speaker 8 (01:06):
You know?

Speaker 2 (01:06):
I was relieved, but it was like, no, I said,
just just come over and go through your room. It's
still there. I haven't touched. I haven't touched the thing.
You haven't been there in years. But if there's something,
you know, stacked up there. But I never could quite
grasp Star Wars or Star Trek. But I do admire
those who do because they seem to so thoroughly enjoy it.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
Oh, both of them.

Speaker 6 (01:29):
Star Wars, Star Trek. That was me huge as a kid,
played both of them.

Speaker 7 (01:33):
Okay, okay, look all right, made the fourth the fourth
be with you.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Indeed, indeed, busy day, busy day, busy day, on this
primary election eve, we have a full show today. As
you can just about imagine, three more candidates who are
asking for your vote are going to join us, including
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Meers, Indiana Senate District twenty nine
candidate Dimitrice Demetrius Hicks, and another candidate for that hotly

(02:03):
contested race for Pike Township Trustee, Claudette Peterson. They are
all coming up, but right now we have back with us.

Speaker 7 (02:10):
One of the.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Most respected political leaders and one of the most respected
political minds in the state and around the country. She
is none other than Miss Cordelia Lewis Burks. Miss Cordelia,
welcome back. Let's give her a round. We love having
Miss Cordelia here with us.

Speaker 7 (02:27):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yes, thank you and the audience.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Miss Cordelia, we thank you, We thank you. So how
are you feeling today?

Speaker 3 (02:36):
Well, I went into Estinazzi last Friday, mm hmm, and
I had injections in both hips from authoriters and I'm
it is so slowly working.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Okay, you know, I think those are one of the
called time release things.

Speaker 7 (02:55):
I think that's true.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah, that is true. No, uh, I'm here to encourage
the voters of Marion County to get out and cast
their vote. If they did not during early voting, they
have the remainder of the day and tomorrow to get
that job completing. And I am supporting several candidates and

(03:23):
as you know, they and I warned you, I'm a Democrat,
and I don't apologize unapologized. My list of candidates that
I would like for our listeners, if they haven't already
to support and I will tell them why.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Okay, Well, before we get to that, Miss Cordelia, And
speaking of early voting, all early voting is over. It
just wrapped up at the City County Building at noon
and then but this weekend, yesterday, we had a pretty
widespread effort, I believe five different churches.

Speaker 7 (03:57):
And there were other efforts as well.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
But the efforts that we had here Souls to the
Polls and our very own Cameron Riddle, who owns his
own school bus company, provided the buses free of charge
as his contribution to get folks going to the polls.
And I'm sure Cameron's going to be back in the fall.
Reverend doctor Clyde Poseley was also one of the sponsors

(04:22):
in his church was one of the site And so
this morning doctor Posey's going to be on Wednesday and
we can ask him a little bit more. But this
morning I asked him how did everything go yesterday.

Speaker 7 (04:32):
With the Souls to the Polls outreach? And he said
this I'm going to read. I'm going to read his text.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
I would consider this a significant success and a substantial
momentum builder towards the preparation required for the November midterms.
We had seven churches to participate, although okay, I thought
it was five, although I am uncertain about the exact number.
Each bus participating from the various locations brought several passengers.
And so, uh, doctor Posley, you know, he makes a

(05:02):
plane and tells the truth, uh with in word indeed,
and so we certainly thank him for that. Yeah we yeah, seven, Okay,
we listed five from the flyer. So, uh, the seven,
I want to thank all seven, the ones we had
listed here, Antioch Fountain of Grace, which of course is
doctor Posley's church, Purpose of Life Church, east Side Baptist Church,

(05:25):
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, Olivet Baptist Church, and then
I guess a couple of others that doctor Posley did
not remember or we cannot remember. But you know what,
whether we remember or not, thank you you were there,
you were out there, you were doing it. And again,
thank you, Cameron for that wonderful community service that you provided,
because that is that that's huge. Folks had rides and

(05:46):
gas ain't cheap, gas ain't chief. So thank you again,
Cameron Riddle. Uh so yeah, Miss Cordelia, Yes, you were
saying that you.

Speaker 3 (05:55):
Have a I'd want to speak of a minister that
that has gone them onto the happy hunting grounds in heaven.
And that's Reverend Cheters who worked with me and we've
started Souls to the pole.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
Was Shiloh right boat, Yeah, he was at Shiloh right
Shiloh missione Yeaheters.

Speaker 3 (06:19):
And I and Aaron Hat with other ministers like revend
Ware from the east Side, that such we started souls
to the polls.

Speaker 7 (06:29):
Oh wow, you know what?

Speaker 2 (06:32):
And I had no idea. I knew it started somewhere. Well,
miss where else would it start? But with you if
you think about it, where well, thank you, thank you
so much for that.

Speaker 7 (06:42):
And look at look at it now?

Speaker 3 (06:43):
Can I tell you I get I got a call
from Minister God. I can't think of his name right
now and he'll kill me. And he just called to
say I'm calling just checking to see if you're okay.
And of course all the Russian, many of the ministers,
they call me frequently just to check on me.

Speaker 7 (07:05):
Of course, of course they love.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
You because we use their church vans to have kids
to uh do leaflets. Two weeks two saturdays before the
election day, and we caught them to put these leaflets
on the door knob and not in the mailbox because
that was the federal that was against the law.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
Yeah, well, you know, Ms Cordelia, you you were exercising
something that that political pundits say all the time, and
it it bears repeating. A great ground game can trump
any amount of money you put on TV or the
radio if you've got a good.

Speaker 3 (07:39):
Grad Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, And today began the process of uh,
making sure we know who's going to represent us in
Congress in Congress, and that's not other than Andre Carson
in the seventh district.

Speaker 2 (07:58):
Okay, okay, and his his his challengers on the Democratic side,
his challengers Destiny Wells, Denise Paul Hatch, and George Tornado.

Speaker 7 (08:08):
So yeah, he's it's a very crowded field.

Speaker 3 (08:10):
George and Destiny. I Uh, George was on the Latino
Caucus when I was a Vice sherif of the Indiana
Democratic Party and Destiny came after I stepped aside to
allow young people to come in. And I'm not sure
sure that many of them have made me happy, but

(08:32):
they have selected their choice. And I met with Destiny
Wells for two hours down at Champs restaurant there at
Illinois and Washington Street when I first met this young lady,
and she then she they don't take long to feel

(08:55):
like that it's their it's their chance. And she's has
let us know she thinks it's her chance, not only
for secretary of State, which she lost, an attorney general
which she lost, and when she ran it for Marion
County Democratic Party chair and she lost.

Speaker 7 (09:14):
And there wasn't it didn't she also run for State
Democratic Party. Well I thought she ran for state. Oh
well anyway, yeah, but.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
Ahead where Aaron Hate said when she loses issue or
a run for mayor, but I.

Speaker 7 (09:33):
Stay out there and keep swinging.

Speaker 3 (09:34):
Yeah. I had my union absently to present her a
contribution of two thousand dollars. And she ran the secretary
of state because that is so important to our electures. Yeah,
and she lost that. So and I see she put
the copy of the picture on I guess his Facebook,

(09:55):
because I got a call or several calls and wanted
to know why I was given the chick to Destiny
Wells against Andre Carson and I had to go on Facebook.

Speaker 9 (10:06):
And correct that.

Speaker 3 (10:08):
So still asking for money. I got a text from
her this morning where she's still asking for money and
I'm not so sure that that's not what she's all about.
But I would imagine that the family of the Shapiro
A restaurant is raised a big amount of money for

(10:29):
the other night because she doesn't Oh yeah, they had
a big fundraiser for Wow. But you know the thing
about these young people is they come in to run
for office and all they consider is mostly something about
them and the money that the other candidate got on

(10:50):
something negative about the other candidate, and that you know,
we're not used to that were used to people running
for office and telling us what they're going to do.
So I'm just gonna say this, and I'm not going
to mention Destiny's name again because I've got other candidates,
but a vote for Destiny is like the vote for

(11:10):
Donald Trump? And what did that get you? And I
want every every Democrat that's listened to this and every
listener this just remind anybody who is going to vote
tomorrow or the remainder of the day, at the earth,
at the well that's closed, but vote tomorrow, that let

(11:31):
them know that they voted against Kamala Harrison, voted for
Trump and what did that get you?

Speaker 10 (11:37):
You know?

Speaker 3 (11:38):
So we've got to We have even got a this
detention center here in Indiana that I don't hear the
meet of media talking about it.

Speaker 8 (11:46):
It's in the northern part of the state.

Speaker 3 (11:48):
And I'm not so sure he's not trying to get camp.
Annabury told, Oh.

Speaker 7 (11:54):
Well, yeah, yeah, that's that's been reported. That that's that's.

Speaker 3 (11:58):
Keep reporting it because he's still there. And you know
bron is his his is a boy turn this land,
I know. So anyway, on my other candidate is.

Speaker 7 (12:14):
What about the JD.

Speaker 2 (12:16):
Ford is vacating and leaving Indiana State Senate District twenty
nine wide open and you have several vying for that.
You got like one, two, three four on the Democratic
side and at least two on the Republican side for
the primary.

Speaker 7 (12:31):
For the primary.

Speaker 3 (12:32):
That's true, That is true. J D was over to
Sydney about three months ago. Let me know, he was
running okay, okay, and while he was here, it's not
my district. I can't vote vote for him, but I
wrote him a check for two hundred dollars because our
candidates need money as well. Yeah, and especially in these

(12:52):
districts around the state of Indiana.

Speaker 7 (12:54):
So who looks strong in that be going.

Speaker 3 (12:56):
To Andre Carson's run raiser tonight that Ellen Hogan and
a bunch of people are given and I will write
him a check for two hundred dollars because I give
my commence congressman ever since he's been there a contribution monthly.
That was my American Express card. Wowause he doesn't get
the money. You know, I don't think Eli Lilly gave

(13:19):
Julia a contribution, and I'm not sure how if given Andre,
I don't think they have.

Speaker 7 (13:26):
But you know, so who do you like in the
twenty ninth that Andre?

Speaker 11 (13:31):
No?

Speaker 3 (13:32):
It?

Speaker 7 (13:33):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (13:33):
So Andre is your guy for the for the seventh district,
the incumbent keeping him there?

Speaker 7 (13:39):
Who the twenty ninth district? JD. Ford is moving on?
Who do you who do you like there?

Speaker 3 (13:46):
Uh for in his seat? Well won't be representing me?

Speaker 2 (13:53):
Well that's yeah, that's just asking who you thought would
be strong strong?

Speaker 7 (13:57):
Looks strong in there of course.

Speaker 3 (14:00):
Been doing a lot of work though I have made
observation of him.

Speaker 7 (14:04):
Who is that.

Speaker 3 (14:06):
The young man who is uh taking the the city?
Who is running for the position that.

Speaker 10 (14:15):
H J.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
Dasley.

Speaker 7 (14:17):
Yeah, we've got Reverend David Green, President Concerned Clergy and.

Speaker 3 (14:23):
My lads Saturday and Pike Township. You don't believe I
was out there and I hadn't even gotten my injection
in my hips yet, but I was out there. Reverend
Green was out there campaign and at Pike Township.

Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah, Library Dimitrice Hicks who will be here with us today,
Christina Moorehead and Kevin Short And that's on the Democratic side.

Speaker 7 (14:44):
On the I don't know the now.

Speaker 10 (14:46):
The other two Demetrius.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Demetrius and then Reverend Green, and then on the GLP
side John rucgles House, former state senator, and then Ronnie
Ford who worked for Todd Young.

Speaker 7 (14:56):
So there's there's rules.

Speaker 3 (14:58):
House is a decent young man. Well he's a kind
of middle aged now. But I remember his father, wasn't
it his father who was there in Congress?

Speaker 7 (15:09):
Yeah, in long time he was.

Speaker 3 (15:12):
Given my age, Cana you make me do that?

Speaker 2 (15:15):
No, no, but his I think his dad also was
a long term, longtime attorney for the police, the FOP.

Speaker 7 (15:26):
I think he was FOP.

Speaker 2 (15:27):
Okay, I think, but anyway, or some ruggles. I'm pretty
sure it was down but anyway. Yeah, so go ahead,
miss Cordelia. I'm gonna let you bow bye.

Speaker 3 (15:38):
You're bow bye for Secretary of State. We've got to
select him. He comes from decency and honorable family. You know,
I remember Bertcha Bai who when he was in the
Indiana House and Senate and went on to Washington and
h one as our congress. Well, I don't remember that

(16:03):
congressman or senator, but I know I was at a
meeting at the National AFL Co in Washington, sixteen hundred
sixteenth Street, and across the street is a restaurant called
Hey Adams. And I was there with a group of
people from labor and somebody yelled at me, Cardell, what

(16:25):
the hell are you doing here? And it was verse.
There was twenty others there, and he picked up the
check for everybody.

Speaker 7 (16:37):
Oh, I love that you had no you.

Speaker 3 (16:40):
Know, we lost the treasure when we lost Senator bie So.
And of course he's the one the son of Evan By,
our former governor, and his mother Susan By, who was
just an angel as far as I'm concerned. She and
I said many boards together.

Speaker 7 (17:01):
She was really nice.

Speaker 3 (17:02):
We will having bow bye. It will be he will
be working for the people, not for his family, buying
expensive cars and getting expensive given salaries to his relatives.
It is genuinely honest young man. And of course he's

(17:23):
been here to visit me and tell me why he
was running. And so let's see that bow bay gets
in there as Secretary of State uh and and UH
defeat his opponents in the primaria and go on to
win in November.

Speaker 2 (17:42):
Mister, do you think the buy name at this point?
Because you know, he's two generations from his grandfather. I
mean it was his grandfather, then his dad, and now
his dad's been away for a while and now him Uh.
I think his his uh, his father benefited a lot
because he was so close in terms of running for
political office and when his dad was there. Do you

(18:05):
think that there's enough name equity left here in the
state of Indiana to get Bobaye over over the finish
line or do you think it's going to be tough.

Speaker 3 (18:14):
Well, it may be tough, but however, bou Baye has
been around this state. I have gotten text messages from
county Democratic county parties and Democrats across the state and
you know, and and all of the comments have been complementary.
So I'm hoping we can pull him through. And I

(18:35):
and from our conversation, he told me missus Cordulia, don't
you ever worry. I'm gonna work for this. I'm not
gonna take this for granted. And let me say that
you are aware because you were at her celebration of
life service when my daughter died in November. Who come
walking in the viewing the night before? But Bo and Evan.

Speaker 7 (19:01):
Bye, oh my, oh my.

Speaker 3 (19:04):
Evan has Bo has called me several times, just not
to ask me about voting, but just to make sure
that I'm doing okay. So how many young men will
do that?

Speaker 10 (19:16):
You know?

Speaker 12 (19:17):
Well?

Speaker 7 (19:18):
And he said he was raised, well, he was taught well.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yes he was, Yes, he was in. And now the
other candidate that I'm introduced in and you told me
I had an hour, Tina, I mean you did well.

Speaker 7 (19:32):
Well, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

Speaker 3 (19:36):
Because the other candidate and is Melody Hints, who is
running for Pike Township. Trust to. Let me tell you
something about Melody. No, I cannot vote for her out
in Pike for trust to. But I was in the
hospital in the first time in my life in twenty

(19:58):
twenty three, and I was there for one month. I
was rushed out of my home and that Sunday afternoon
I went to emergency surgery. But every night that I
was in that hospital, Melody had slept in a chair
across from my bed every night for a month. Now,

(20:20):
we grew up in the state of West Virginia. She
came here after she had worked for Senator Rockefeller in
West Virginia, and she came here and she was on
staff for Julia Carson. Now you know, Julia didn't take
no trash to represent the people of I think it

(20:41):
might have been the eleventh Congressional District. Congression has changed
so much, But she worked for Julia and she has
just been a wonderful young lady. She graduated from the
University of West Virginia. And I can assure you you
that she will take care of the people of Pike, uh,

(21:06):
Pike Township, and she will represent them without without all
of the turmoil that's been out there, uh in Pike.
I was reading something Oh Mirror Indians near Mirror, Indy
on my computer, uh this morning about all of the

(21:27):
all of the confusion in Pike Township. She is she
and her husband are reptible people and and she will
serve the people of Pike Township. And you know that
the responsibilities of the pipe of the township trust chief
are many and it requires uh the trustee to administer

(21:53):
the township assistance to people who cannot meet their basic needs.
And Melody w was do this because she grew up
in West Virginia in the coal mining area where there
were poor people, and her family was involved in not politics,
but to community activities. So she came up and learning

(22:17):
very well how to represent and and take care of
those who have less than many of us. So I'm
supporting her for those reasons.

Speaker 7 (22:30):
Well, Miss Cordelia.

Speaker 2 (22:32):
Doctor Lionel Rush is on the line and would like
to say something to you, Doctor Rush, go ahead.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
How are you someone I love and respect?

Speaker 10 (22:44):
Okay, I know one thing, you don't love me more?

Speaker 8 (22:48):
Not I love you about a billion.

Speaker 10 (22:50):
Time flush more. But I want to say something.

Speaker 8 (22:56):
Because we're at a critical time time right now. Trump
started redistricting and he got out out maneuvered, and he
got out maneuvered.

Speaker 10 (23:11):
I don't know if there was some discussion.

Speaker 8 (23:15):
With the Supreme Court that calls them about two about
thirty I'm sorry, fifty nine days before the two hundred
and fiftieth year of this age for them to come
up and to completely eviscerate the Voting Rights Act with

(23:39):
the Shenanigans that they pulled. But we're in a terrible,
terrible time. And I thought about that, and I thought
about Ms Cordelia. You know, David had fast mood stones,
and y'all mentioned Julia. She's gone and Bill's gone.

Speaker 10 (23:55):
Those are stones they're going.

Speaker 8 (23:56):
But we got one more left, and she's on this
phone right now.

Speaker 10 (24:01):
Ms Cordelia.

Speaker 8 (24:02):
We got to learn how to love our own and
we got to learn how to respect the wisdom that
we have around us in this terrible, terrible moment. This
that moved the Supreme Court just did takes us back
to a three fish human. It takes us back to

(24:26):
eighteen seventy five, just before Jim Crow was manifested all
over the South, just after the elected rutherper behaves, and
we went in a dim Crow period for all of
those years into either Emmittil or Rose Parts or to
the Voting Rights Act.

Speaker 10 (24:47):
We was in that Jim Crow period. And so I'm
just I'm simply saying I'm not here.

Speaker 8 (24:54):
I'm not going to endorse any candidate as a president
of a denomination of mess the airlines, because it's a
Bible once three. But I'm here to say that we
must vote, but we also must not be dis maade,
because God has left us another stone at fifth Stone,
and Miss Cardelia's at fifth Stone.

Speaker 10 (25:14):
And we can knock down the Goliath. And that's all
I want to say.

Speaker 3 (25:19):
Well, thank you, Elder Rush. He calls me his coaching.
Kids don't know that my father was a pastor of
the Church of God in Christ and he was really
strict to me.

Speaker 13 (25:33):
So I put lipstick on on.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
The school bus and eat it off before I got home.
I never told Elder, but I did have on my list,
Elder Russia, the Voting Rights Act and the Supreme Court.
And if I understand in history says that Roberts wanted

(25:56):
to see the Voting Rights Act deleted and a from
the time he served in the bush of President so
and the first first person who taught me about the
power of the Supreme Court was a person called Norman Hill,
who was mister a Philip Randolph's uh young uh uh

(26:23):
uh executives. And this week uh and Norman and Delma
Hill were walked across the endless Patish Bridge with John
Lewis and and Belma has a has a hip injury
that she still has to cater to. And I called
them last week and said, Norman, Uh, put me on

(26:46):
speaker because I want to talk to both him you
and I want to thank you for letting me know
the impact of the Supreme Court. And when we selected
candidates for president, we needed to know where they still it.
As far as what could happen at the Supreme Court, well,
it happened last week during the court and Uh, but

(27:09):
you and and what the court did when they rule
against the voting rights at it impacted not only congressional
candidates but those in the state houses and every other
office that we we have. So we have to make
sure that we get Andre Carson reelected. Uh. And the

(27:32):
of course nobody's listening to me from the first congressional district.
We have to return out to congressman. Of course it's
not going to impact him too much because he's a
he's not African Americans. But we have to get Andre
back and the courts. Uh. I don't call it supreme anymore,
Elder rush, I call it the court when I talk

(27:55):
about it. So we have to And if I didn't
say enough about this when I was in offices like
the National Democratic Committee and congressional representative you know eleven
and the seventh congressional district and vice chair of the party.

(28:18):
I will be speaking out loud about the reflection of
the Supreme Court. But Tina, you know you and I
and you had me on the radio talking about Project
twenty five.

Speaker 7 (28:31):
Oh my goodness, how many times?

Speaker 12 (28:33):
How many?

Speaker 7 (28:33):
How many times?

Speaker 2 (28:34):
Eric did we We must have done more than a
dozen shows on project and.

Speaker 3 (28:40):
You have people on talking about projects.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Oh my goodness, had dedicated the hours, literally hours to that.

Speaker 3 (28:48):
Absolutely.

Speaker 8 (28:49):
Yeah, let me say something about that. That Project twenty
twenty five was the ninth iteration that the head is
foundation and others. When Bill Comfort then used to tell
us that stuff, we thought he was talking French. But
that's started under Ronald Reagan. And every it has two

(29:11):
or three things to it. It has white concophony, It
has white superiority in it.

Speaker 10 (29:18):
It moves to.

Speaker 8 (29:18):
Water photocracy and an oligarchy. But it eliminates all African
Americans in drastic ways. But it also produces billionaires and
the white folks that they use to do that on
piece win. They don't understand that nobody's going to come

(29:42):
and pluck the stuff out of their form. They don't
understand that they're going to be affected by the medical
care cuts. They don't understand any of that sort of thing.
So this Project twenty twenty five is a hellish thing
on wheels and as Bill Property and Cordelia, as you
used to teach us, this whole thing is a scheme,

(30:02):
not only with the Hairtage Foundation, not only when given
that fellow lin Leo one point seven billion dollars to
put these thirty six year old attorneys that don't know
they butt from a hole in the ground in these
federal judgeships. Not only do they steal the Mayor Garlett

(30:24):
Supreme Court charged from Barack Obama so that they have
a Supreme Court, they have Project twenty twenty five, They have.

Speaker 10 (30:34):
Lined Leo, and they have this notion that.

Speaker 8 (30:40):
They think that Trump is a king and he doesn't
have to abide by anything.

Speaker 10 (30:45):
So anyway, I'm going to off go ahead.

Speaker 3 (30:51):
Well, you're absolutely correct, helda RUSS. But we talked about it,
We tried to warn them, and it was amazing to
me the percentage of African American men and even the
percentage of women who voted for Donald Trump because fifty.

Speaker 8 (31:13):
Percent of white males voted for Donald Talp, fifty four
percent of Hispanic mail voted for Donald Trov, fifty three
percent of white women voted for Donald tap. Only ninety
one percent of Black women voted for Kamala and seventy
seven percent of Black men voted for Kamala, which meant
twenty three percent either didn't vote or as as Jessin

(31:37):
Jackson used to say, if you don't vote, you're voting
for somebody else.

Speaker 3 (31:41):
That's right. Absolutely, you got the percentage of correct. So
there we go, and that's even more important. While we
need to make sure that we send our Congressman Andre
Carson back to Congress to represent us. And for those
folks on Facebook who did not think that indicated that

(32:01):
he had not done anything, that's because you don't read
your news or you don't listen to the news. Because
I know what he has done and when and when
my son died and I needed information from the Veteran's Department,
who did I call? I called uh uh Congressman Andre

(32:22):
Carson and he got all of that information together for me.
I haven't had to use his services for many things,
but that is one that UH and I remember, uh,
my former congressman, Uh, and I had to call his

(32:42):
office about something when David was in the service and
he had been transferred to Georgia from Texas to do
some training and and there was somebody there in Georgia
who uh put him in the RIGG David seven and

(33:06):
he strutted when he walked. Okay, but I called my
congressman Andrew what what was that from congress picture? He
and his wife here? But that evening. I called him
that morning about ten o'clock about David, and by uh
three p m. He was calling me back telling me

(33:27):
that David was on his way back to taxes.

Speaker 7 (33:30):
Yeah, that's the importance.

Speaker 3 (33:32):
Of having a congress person who's going to represent your interest.

Speaker 7 (33:36):
I think that was Andy Jacobs. Was it not asked
for Jacobs picture of he?

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Because the line of succession is such Andrew Jacobs, Julia Carson,
then Andre Carr.

Speaker 7 (33:47):
Yeah, so that's.

Speaker 3 (33:48):
That's right, Andrews.

Speaker 7 (33:50):
Miss Cordelia called and didn't we Yes, we did.

Speaker 2 (33:54):
And uh, if you want to stick around for a minute, Uh,
Prosecutor Ryan Meers is here in studio with us, and.

Speaker 3 (34:00):
I'm supporting Ryan.

Speaker 7 (34:03):
All right, Well, let's get to the break and we'll
be right back.

Speaker 2 (34:05):
Thank you, Elder Rush. Ms Cordelia, stay right there, We'll
be right back.

Speaker 14 (34:09):
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Speaker 1 (36:17):
And then let's get back to the conversation. It's Community
Connection with Tina Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates,
a champion for justice, opportunity and well being for children
on Praise Am thirteen ten ninety five point one FM.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
And we're back with community Connection on this primary election eve.
We have with us, a veteran political analyst, strategists, you
name it.

Speaker 7 (36:46):
One of the best political.

Speaker 2 (36:47):
Minds around and certainly one of the most enduring. Miss
Cordelia Lewis Burks is with us and Miss Cordelia. You
went down a list of candidates, and right before we
took the break, I told you we have a candidate
here for Mary County prosecutor who's also the incumbent, and
you you made your opinions on on that as well.

Speaker 7 (37:06):
So Prosecutor Mers Ryan meures, go ahead, how are you.

Speaker 18 (37:10):
I'm doing great, It's great to be here. That's always
good to hear from Miss Cordelia.

Speaker 7 (37:13):
Yeah, always always, Miss Cordelia's uh, Miss.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
Cordillia was the last test message I sent to you,
mister prosecutor.

Speaker 18 (37:21):
Then you sent it to me on Thursday. And what
wasn't she needs a yard sign?

Speaker 7 (37:29):
Wow?

Speaker 3 (37:29):
You know my daughter was award chair in the fifth
Ward and a precinct committment. Dawn used to be at
seven years old, she was one of those kids handing
them information out on door knobs. So when she became
of age, she had signed political signs in her yards.
I got a text from my grandson who has taken

(37:51):
her place as Freecinc Committee and mister Prosecutor James Lewis,
and he said, well, you know, my mom always had
political sign in her yard, so we're putting them in there. Indeed, indeed,
I tick Ryan, put your sign or he texts me.
Ryan's sign is in Dawn Lewis's yard at twenty seven

(38:15):
hundred in our capitol.

Speaker 7 (38:16):
Okay, yeah, there you heard there. It is absolutely to
stay there. So the rescutter mirrors.

Speaker 2 (38:20):
You're running unopposed, so you will clear the primary. Uh So,
but what can you say to people about the importance
of coming out and voting for you anyway?

Speaker 7 (38:30):
What does that mean?

Speaker 18 (38:31):
Well, it's not just me, it's for everybody who's involved
in the process. And you know every year we struggle
with voter turnout. And one of the I've been going
door to door here in Marion County and even though
I'm gonna pose, because number one, I want people to
know I'm not taking their vote for granted. But number two,
we all benefit when more people participate in the process.
And this is your opportunity for you to let the

(38:52):
community know how you feel things are going and maybe
changes that you would like to see and you know,
people sometimes tell me, Hey, there's I don't have a
reason to vote, or my vote doesn't matter, and I
always remind them, if your vote didn't matter, they wouldn't
work so hard to take your votes away, and they
wouldn't work so hard to suppress that vote. And so
I just think it's really important, especially with what happened

(39:13):
last week with the Voting Rights Act, with that Supreme
Court decision, Now, more than ever, is a great opportunity
to remind everybody about that importance of actually making it
to the ballot box on election day because so many
different things depend on it, and what are community is
going to look like in terms of elected leadership at
the state house level, at the local level, and at

(39:36):
the state level is going to be determined on May fifth.
And I hope that's a responsibility and an opportunity that
everybody takes very seriously. So I don't have an opponent,
but I was at Washington Township early voting. I was
at the Pike Township yesterday early voting, just encouraging people
to go get out there and vote, because I just
think it's critically important that we get as many people
involved as possible.

Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yeah, tomorrow is actually the day six eight to six
pe because all early voting in Marion County ended at
noon today at the City County Building. So hey, now
it's just just go out there on on election day.

Speaker 7 (40:09):
Miss Cordell. You had a question for the prosecutor.

Speaker 3 (40:14):
You know, I I have, I have had the privilege
of summary in many areas in the city and the state,
and as vice charity Indiana Democratic Party. One of my
memories of his wife, uh prosecutors. Okay, and that was

(40:39):
before he ran for prosecutors. So uh, she was just
a delightful young lady. And I always tell why of
elected officials and why of uh labor leaders that they
should have a halo around their heads?

Speaker 18 (41:00):
That is one truly.

Speaker 7 (41:02):
So yeah, well yeah, so much sacrifice leadership exactly.

Speaker 2 (41:11):
Now I said, it's a sacrifice I guess for either way.
A candidate male, a candidate a female. You know your
spouse has to you know, has to surrender used to Yeah,
that's true, absolutely, prosecutor mirrors we have the phone line
started lighting up as soon as you sat down, and
that's fine, But a quick question and then we'll go

(41:31):
to the phone lines. Your platform has it changed since
you first ran for office to now and what will
it be or what can we expect?

Speaker 18 (41:42):
I mean, I think you could constantly involving, evolving to
making sure that you're keeping up with the needs and
desires of the community. And when I go out in
the community, they also they number one, want to make
sure that we're on point doing a good job as
it relates to homicides and violent crime. And we had
our highest conviction rate that we've ever had on homicide cases,
which is a direct result of the relation ships and
the inroads that we've made with people in the community.

(42:03):
But people also want to make sure that we're being
smart and we're utilizing in a way our resources in
a way that ultimately benefit the community, which is why
we spend so much time working on our second Chance events,
helping people get criminal convictions expunge from their record so
they can get that job, so they can find a
place to live, because there's a lot of places that
won't rent to people who have criminal histories, And those
are the things that I think make us smart on

(42:25):
justice and also demonstrate to the community that we want
to make sure that we're setting people up to be successful.
There's a lot of people who are involved in the
criminal justice system who are not bad people. They were
maybe just in some tough circumstances, and we need to
help those individuals move forward, and we need to constantly
try to do the right thing. And I'm a big
believer in my job is to help solve problems. How
can we solve the problem? Why did this person find

(42:46):
themselves in the criminal justice system? Is it a mental
health related issue? Is it an addiction related issue? Is
it a housing related issue? And then see what resources
we can offer that individual so we don't see them
come back into the criminal justice system.

Speaker 2 (42:59):
Yeah, indeed, three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten.
Three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten. If you
have a question for Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mehers, he
is here. He's asking for your vote tomorrow's primary election.
Uh so, please go ahead and get your question out
there so that we get to as many folks as possible,
because when I tell you, the phone lines are are full.

(43:21):
And of course we have Miss Cordelia Lewis Burks here
with us as well. So let's go to Malcolm. You
have a question for prosecutor mirors.

Speaker 19 (43:29):
I do doing the day.

Speaker 7 (43:31):
Good, good, good, How are you.

Speaker 10 (43:34):
Now?

Speaker 19 (43:34):
I went to go get my son. He just made eighteen,
and I went to go get him a state ID. Uh,
And that never really dawned on me. He has a handicap,
so he wants to vote. So how does this work?

Speaker 3 (43:48):
Now?

Speaker 19 (43:49):
Since he has a handicap, how can I help him?
It'll be a first time him voting.

Speaker 18 (43:55):
Well, well, first of all, thank you for encouraging your
child to vote and getting your child in a position
to vote. You know, if he has his ID, he's
good to go, and you can certainly accompany him to
the voting location and you can assist him. Ultimately, he
has to make the choice in terms of who he
wants to vote for. But if he has his ID
and he's eighteen and he's registered to go, there should

(44:16):
be nothing preventing him from from voting. And I applaud
everyone who comes out there to vote. And that story
really warms my heart because I love hearing people being
engaged in the process.

Speaker 2 (44:26):
Does there have to be any verification of assistance, and
you know that he will need.

Speaker 7 (44:33):
You know, assistance, Does there have to be any verification
of that?

Speaker 19 (44:36):
You know, people have different ways of you know, if
I come in there with him and tell them, you know,
if he has well, he.

Speaker 7 (44:44):
Needs parents do what I need.

Speaker 18 (44:47):
I've never seen anybody need that. I mean, most people
accept as an individual who needs a little extra help.
I haven't really seen anybody ever turned away. Worst case
scenario is you can ask for a provisional ballot uh,
which means you get to vote, and then after the
fact they can say, hey, do we follow all the
proper procedures uh? But to me, that shouldn't be an
issue with it.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
So there's no accommodations form or procedure that people have.

Speaker 12 (45:11):
To go through.

Speaker 18 (45:12):
No, I think you should be Okay, okay.

Speaker 7 (45:13):
Right, thank you, Malcolm.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
I appreciate it. Thank you, Jeff, go ahead. Do you
have a question for the prosecutor?

Speaker 12 (45:18):
How are you?

Speaker 10 (45:20):
Yes? I do it?

Speaker 13 (45:20):
Well, I actually I have a question.

Speaker 7 (45:21):
For vote in the prost Okay, okay, okay.

Speaker 13 (45:25):
First of all, mister Merris, you're doing all standing, John,
and just let you know I did vote for you yesterday.

Speaker 18 (45:30):
Well, thank you post so that means I'm gonna win,
so thank you.

Speaker 13 (45:33):
Well, that's okay, it goes good right now, right now.

Speaker 20 (45:36):
And me person, I.

Speaker 13 (45:38):
Think you should look for higher office because we didn't
get Todd Young and Jim Banks out of there, and
we got to get these two clowns out of there.

Speaker 15 (45:43):
So maybe you.

Speaker 13 (45:44):
Should look for higher office. And thank you for standing
up to Governor Brown when he jumped the conclusions about
the Mark Sanchez incident, pointing fingers at certain demographs and
all defects and you're sitting straight, and kudos to you
and miss Cordelia Luis. Information shake Kevin Roberts the Architect
Project twenty twenty five. Did you know he had a

(46:06):
PhD in African American history?

Speaker 20 (46:08):
Oh?

Speaker 7 (46:09):
No, I wasn't. Oh my goodness, I did not know
that Jeff.

Speaker 3 (46:13):
Foundation was started here in an the Annapolis.

Speaker 13 (46:17):
Yes, and use that information to come after us. So
just think about that. And yes, Tina, I am a
Star Track fan and a Star Wars fan. So you
have a great Monday.

Speaker 7 (46:28):
Okay, you too, Jeff appreciated, appreciate it. Thanks. You know,
Prosecutor Mereas, there has.

Speaker 2 (46:32):
Been speculation about the fact that you may be seeking
higher office at some point in time.

Speaker 7 (46:39):
What do you say to that.

Speaker 18 (46:40):
I mean, it's definitely something that you think about. And
for me, it's like the you know, in the prosecutor's office,
there are limitations to what you can do. One of
the biggest challenges we face in our community right now
is the issue of housing and what can we do
to try to move forward on housing issues and make
sure people have access to housing. And that's something that
falls outside of the traditional scope of the prosecutor's office.
So when you see problems like that and you're looking

(47:02):
for solutions to problems like that, you understand that your
current role, you're maybe not going to be able to
address some of these roup cause issues that you deal
with every single day, and so you you definitely think
about it at times. But you know, I've been a
prosecutor for twenty years. I've worked in the Prosecutor's office
for twenty years. I love the job and I love
the fact that every day when I go to work,
I get to help people, and I want to continue

(47:24):
serving in that capacity.

Speaker 2 (47:27):
Kevin, go ahead, do you have a question? And then
I have a question for Miss Cordial. Go ahead, Kevin,
do you.

Speaker 7 (47:31):
Have a question for the prosecutor?

Speaker 8 (47:34):
Hey?

Speaker 10 (47:34):
How are you doing good?

Speaker 7 (47:35):
How are you all right?

Speaker 10 (47:37):
Hey? How are you doing? How are you doing a prosecutor?

Speaker 5 (47:38):
I got more of a comment. From the way I
grew up, it was kind of a taboo to have
somebody in the projectuse the office as what you would
call a friend. But the first time I'm man, mister
mir is the first thing you.

Speaker 10 (47:49):
Said to me, Hey man, it's some night looking bow Jackson.

Speaker 5 (47:55):
The subsequent conversation we had was about a friend of
mine who used to be a friend of he is,
I won't say any names, and I say, hey man.
He said, hey, I'm gonna be honest with you, and
this is what I really respected about him. He said,
I will not work with that person, but that's not
saying I want work with you. Since then, he gave
me access to where I can get to his office,
and the guys I got to come through my program,
he allows them to go and get some help well

(48:17):
to come to a driver license or when it comes
to child support. So like again, from where I come from,
you know, I demographic to say somebody at vis stature
and his job to be a friend is something.

Speaker 10 (48:30):
That we didn't have.

Speaker 5 (48:30):
And every time I see him out, like I said,
without getting too much information, every time I see him
out at where I work at one our event, we
always have a nice conversation.

Speaker 18 (48:39):
Yeah, yeah, and I appreciate the work you do every
day in the community. I mean, you're one of those
people that are actually doing the work. And as I
told you, the most important thing to me is I
just want to work with people who are actually getting
it done.

Speaker 10 (48:49):
And that exactly what you told me. And I appreciate that.

Speaker 7 (48:51):
Kevin. Have you voted yet or are you going to
vote tomorrow?

Speaker 10 (48:55):
No? Tomorrow?

Speaker 2 (48:55):
All right, all right then, okay, we love that. Thank you, Kevin,
appreciate it.

Speaker 7 (49:00):
So Ms Cordelia.

Speaker 3 (49:01):
Yes, we have.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
Heard that voter participation by the numbers, and our friend
Abdul upstairs, our colleague put out some numbers, and everybody
that's come in here, that's sat down, that's been to
polling places so far leading up to tomorrow, has said
there's an increase, So there's more. What you know, you're

(49:23):
the sage, what do you what do you think is
going on with that?

Speaker 3 (49:27):
Well, it's what Donald Trump has done since season in
an office. So it will urge you to get out
and vote. And I think that has an impact as well. Uh.
And there may be because there are an increase in
the number of candidates we have, may have some reason

(49:49):
for for that as well, increase. But I look at
what Donald Trump is doing U and over and the
vote and what the court has done the voting right then.

Speaker 2 (50:02):
Yeah, vote the voter suppression efforts then all the way,
because Prosecutor Mimas you talked about that when you when
you said down that clearly we're identifying and being able
to finger put our fingers on a number of voter
suppression efforts out there.

Speaker 18 (50:16):
And just to echo Miss Cordelia's comments, I mean, there's
so many people who are angry right now who just
want to channel that anger somewhere. And you know, people
are fed up with five dollars gas, and people are
fed up with the fact that we just cut a
really successful daycare program statewide that are really impacting people's
bottom lines and how they live. And people want to
channel that anger. And they're channeling that anger right now

(50:37):
by wanting to go out and vote, which is exactly
the type of enthusiasm that we're going to need to
carry over into November so we can see that change,
you know, not only locally but statewide.

Speaker 7 (50:49):
Got another question, Okay, you were saying absolutely, Miss.

Speaker 3 (50:52):
Cordelia, Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 7 (50:54):
Okay, We're going to go back to the phone lines
real quickly. Pierre, go ahead, How are.

Speaker 9 (50:58):
You good afternoon? Prosecuting meers have two quick questions. As
a prosecutor in Marion County, you can review the actions
of anybody that holds a state license, right, not anybody quality?

(51:19):
What do you mean not in it? Who can't you?

Speaker 18 (51:21):
Yeah? So the attorney General has the responsibility of maintaining
like all the different licenses. So for instance, if you're
a barber, that that jurisdiction doesn't fall under me, it
would fall under the Attorney General's office. Most medical professionals
follow fall under the the Attorney General's office. But there
are some things that we do have oversight of.

Speaker 9 (51:44):
Okay, well, okay, And then here's the other question. You
you're endorsing Carla Lopez Lance.

Speaker 20 (51:53):
That is, in.

Speaker 9 (51:56):
An advertisement you set out you talk talked about restoring
integrity in the Marion County Clerk's office or okay, so
could you could you explain that what's going on with Katie? Uh?
That would give you pause when you say restoring integrity,

(52:20):
because I would think the county clerk would have to
have a fair degree of integrity if she's running our
elections and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
I just so you're you're talking about incumbent clerk Kate
Sweeney Bell, correct, who is also running for Okay, all.

Speaker 9 (52:38):
Right, yes, integrity. Could you could you expound on that
a little more because you ought to be one of.

Speaker 7 (52:47):
The top We got it, We got it. I don't
want to. I don't want the computer to catch off.

Speaker 4 (52:51):
Here, go ahead, Okay, Well I appreciate that.

Speaker 18 (52:54):
And you know, I think the main thing is, you know,
I think we can do better. Uh And I think
Carlo is an answer and a choice where we can
do better. And that's why I'm supporting Carla. And you know,
as it relates to the specific issue of integrity, I
think one of the things that was frustrating to me
is we handed out a one point five million dollars

(53:15):
no big contract to her largest campaign donor. So when
I talk about integrity, that's what I'm talking about. We
have had issues where we have filed probable cause AFFIDAVE
is what the.

Speaker 3 (53:26):
Works are we hand that out? Mister prosecute? Who handed that?

Speaker 20 (53:29):
Check out the election board?

Speaker 3 (53:33):
Oh okay, well I have a friend on the election board.
I'll check that out.

Speaker 7 (53:37):
Yeah, yeah, And you know.

Speaker 18 (53:40):
The the other thing that really is concerning to me
as prosecutor is we file a number of cases under seal.
We file those cases underseal for good reason. H In particular,
some of those problem cause affidavits have been leaked to
the media prior to when they should have been discovered
to the public, which potentially compromises investigations. And so you

(54:04):
know when it relates to that specific comment, those are
two of the issues that I was thinking of.

Speaker 3 (54:09):
Yeah, now, the young lady, that's what closing Kate is
a member of your staff in Cutry. All right, we
wanted to make that clear. I'm about fairness.

Speaker 15 (54:21):
Okay, okay, absolutely do that.

Speaker 2 (54:24):
So before we close out this particular segment, some final
closing thoughts from both you, Miss Cordelia and you prosecutor
and prosecuting Meres. I'll go with you first, and please
give contact information for people that need to find out more.

Speaker 18 (54:39):
So, the biggest thing for me is I just want
to encourage people to go out to vote. We need
people not only vote tomorrow, but we need people to
vote in November. And it starts by building that muscle
memory and good habits, and that's something hopefully that we
can build today, and you know, I want to encourage
as many people to get out there and vote Marion County.
Marion County is going to be the difference come no

(55:00):
member as it relates to state wide elected offices, and
I hope that's something that everybody remembers as as we
move forward. I think the the other thing is just
remember the people that you're voting for. They work for you,
uh elected leadership, they work for the community, and they
are here to serve the community. And hopefully everybody that
you talk to and ask for your vote, you can

(55:21):
ask them what have you done to help the community.
If they have a good answer, vote for them.

Speaker 7 (55:26):
And have you voted diet or do you butt on
the link?

Speaker 18 (55:28):
I like to vote on elections.

Speaker 2 (55:29):
Okay, okay, all right, thank you, well, good luck and
congratulations on the campaign. And we'll be checking in with
you periodically.

Speaker 3 (55:36):
In my regards to your wife, Shammon, okay.

Speaker 2 (55:40):
Miss Cordelia, Yeah, yeah, what do you want to what
do you want to leave listeners with before the primary tomorrow?

Speaker 3 (55:46):
I would like, uh, for those who are voting tomorrow
that they will consider the candidates that I have mentioned.
Congressman ANDREI Carson and who has melody hints and vow
by for sure?

Speaker 7 (56:04):
All right? Have you have you voted yet?

Speaker 3 (56:06):
Don't have integrity when we elects?

Speaker 2 (56:09):
Okay, Integrity is the key word there. So Miss Cordelia,
very quickly, have you voted yet?

Speaker 7 (56:14):
Or do you like to vote on election day?

Speaker 3 (56:16):
Honey? If I don't go and vote on election day,
those people who are still there that I appointed when
I was a share of the party, of my share
of the party, they will be terribly upset.

Speaker 7 (56:29):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (56:30):
So it's a walking in there on election day.

Speaker 7 (56:33):
It's election day for you two. Alrighty, all right? Well,
thank you, and you don't.

Speaker 3 (56:37):
Want to thank you and Rady and Community to Connections
for keeping up the information that you provide through your
sources throughout voters and citizens here in Marion County.

Speaker 2 (56:51):
Miss Cordelia, thank you so much. We'll check in with
you a little bit later again. Prosecutor mayors, thank you,
thank you. All righty, we'll be back. We got more
candidates lined up right after this.

Speaker 7 (57:01):
Stay with us.

Speaker 1 (57:05):
WTLC AM W two three six c are Indianapolis Broadcasting
from the Praise Indy Indiego Studios, Indiego Boldly Moving Indy Forward.
It's Community Connection with Tina Cosby, brought to you by
Child's Advocates, a champion for justice, opportunity and well being
for children, on Praise Am thirteen ten ninety five point

(57:26):
one FM.

Speaker 7 (57:27):
And we're back with Community Connection, heading into our.

Speaker 2 (57:30):
Second hour politically packed show so to speak. But Eric,
we've got a couple of things we want to squeeze in.
Maybe a little relaxation.

Speaker 7 (57:39):
For folks to look forward to after this political season.

Speaker 4 (57:42):
In Oh yeah, definitely little cruise. How on a cruise?

Speaker 7 (57:45):
How do the bumpers?

Speaker 10 (57:46):
How?

Speaker 7 (57:47):
Out back?

Speaker 6 (57:47):
And it's better and bigger than ever. Joined Ricky Smiley
on One Voyage twenty twenty six. It's sailing October twenty
six through November one aboard Virgin Voyage's Resilient Lady, and
every moment helps keep HBCU students in school. Also, you
can book now at one Voyage Cruise dot com. You
know radio one one Voyage Cruise dot Com.

Speaker 4 (58:10):
Really easy.

Speaker 2 (58:11):
Yeah, alrighty. I you've been on a cruise before many times?

Speaker 4 (58:17):
I have many times, probably nine or ten maybe more.

Speaker 7 (58:20):
Never done it.

Speaker 4 (58:20):
Yeah, it's my very first cruise was a Disney cruise.

Speaker 7 (58:24):
Yes, I hear that's one of the gold standards. Believe
it was.

Speaker 20 (58:29):
That really was.

Speaker 6 (58:29):
It was fun, had a lot of fun. And that
was like a six seven day cruise at.

Speaker 4 (58:33):
The time, so it was good.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
I have such motion sickness and that I've suffered with
in my entire life, you know, car sickness, motions, and
I just I've always avoided cruises, but maybe I need
to take one.

Speaker 4 (58:44):
You would hardly notice, I mean, once.

Speaker 2 (58:45):
You're after that first day heard after surgery.

Speaker 7 (58:50):
The doctors always it's not gonna hurt.

Speaker 4 (58:51):
You wouldn't.

Speaker 7 (58:52):
I mean, you're not gonna notice.

Speaker 4 (58:53):
You wouldn't.

Speaker 6 (58:54):
You get adjusted the first night. It's like you wake
up like you've sucked like a baby. Seriously, truly, it's
really relaxing.

Speaker 4 (59:01):
Really, you'd enjoy it.

Speaker 15 (59:03):
Okay, check it out.

Speaker 2 (59:05):
Think about maybe I'll go on a free one purpose.

Speaker 7 (59:09):
Well yeah I could.

Speaker 2 (59:10):
That won't be free though, But anyway, anyway back to uh.

Speaker 7 (59:15):
Here, well let's see there we are, can you hear me?
There we go? I think? Is that better?

Speaker 15 (59:21):
Okay?

Speaker 7 (59:22):
Yeah, that's better? As we well, I don't know here
in feedback? Are we okay?

Speaker 4 (59:27):
Okay, you're good? Go ahead?

Speaker 7 (59:28):
Are we good now?

Speaker 2 (59:30):
Oh, is that what it is? As well? As we
started out the show we were talking. Today is the
primary election eve, and we are bringing to you as
many candidates for office as we possibly can, asking for
your vote. Our next candidate is Demetrius Hicks. He is
a Democrat running in the Indiana State Senate District twenty

(59:54):
nine and he is here with us in studio. Mister Hicks, welcome,
How are you.

Speaker 20 (01:00:00):
Thank you. I'm doing pretty well.

Speaker 9 (01:00:01):
How are you.

Speaker 7 (01:00:02):
I'm doing just fine, just fine. You're still here a
little feedback, but I'm doing just fine. So you are
running for Indiana State Senate. Is that correct?

Speaker 20 (01:00:12):
That is correct?

Speaker 7 (01:00:13):
Yeah? Yeah, So what are your thoughts on that?

Speaker 20 (01:00:15):
I'm excited. I think that it's time for fresh, young,
vibrant leadership at the state House, especially what we're seeing
at the Trump administration and our governor's administration.

Speaker 2 (01:00:26):
Yeah yeah, and the JD for the former or current
he's exiting. And so it's it's wide open. It's a
wide open race, correct.

Speaker 20 (01:00:35):
It is. It is an open seat.

Speaker 10 (01:00:36):
Ye.

Speaker 2 (01:00:36):
So you're here asking for votes for those who are
in your district. So tell our listeners a little bit
about yourself and why they should vote for you.

Speaker 20 (01:00:46):
Sure, so thanks for having me again on the show.
I come from humble beginnings. Tina grew up in Lake County, Indiana,
being in Indianapolis since twenty thirteen, being involved in politics
since two thousand and sixteen at the grassroot level, caucus, leadership,
precinct committee, men, you name it. I run for office
and one in twenty twenty four for the Pipe Township Board,

(01:01:08):
which is the legislative and fiscal body. And my biggest
concern right now is losing the seat in the general
election if we don't get the right candidate in the primary.
And with my legislative experience and government fiscal experience, I
believe I'm the right candidate for that role in the Senate.

Speaker 2 (01:01:27):
So the Senate, the balance at the state House. What's
the current balance now in terms of.

Speaker 20 (01:01:32):
We have ten Democrats in the Senate and I believe
about thirty in the House of Representatives, so it's a
super minority.

Speaker 7 (01:01:42):
So what is it that you what's your platform?

Speaker 20 (01:01:44):
Help not harm? So let me just talk about that
a little bit. Right now, we have too many lawmakers
that are passing bad policies that's harming our communities. We
see that with the childcare cuts. We see that with
the Medicaid waiver cuts. We see that with the cuts
towards foster care. We see that with the at A
center prioritizing funding for those versus prioritizing funding for mental health.

(01:02:05):
We see that even with our educational aspect, right we
are funding vouchers, but we're not necessarily funding public traditional education.
What that looks like special education services are not being
properly funded. Teachers are not getting the proper conversation that
they need to get, and yet they're asking to do
more with less. So in the state of Indiana, we
don't have a money problem with the General Assembly. We

(01:02:26):
have a priority issue and I can navigate those issues
because as elected official, you learn a little bit on
how to work with state offices, you know, state elected officials.
One of my background is being the Indiana Democrat president
for the African American Caucus, and my role was to
get African Americans elected to office at the local, county

(01:02:47):
and state and federal level. So I have those relationships
that I can lean on at the State House should
I get elected.

Speaker 2 (01:02:53):
So how would you leverage all that Because you mentioned
that it's a super minority Democrats are super minority. The
Republicans are super for majority, and a number of issues
and bills and things that they have to pass, they
don't even have to consult you, they don't have to
work with How would you leverage your super minority status
to get to and affect change in those issues that

(01:03:16):
you just listed.

Speaker 20 (01:03:16):
So I'm glad you raised that point. You know, so
a few things in the House of Representative, we just
need four more seats to break the qorm to have
a quorme. So I'm confident in November the Democrats we
will pick up seats in the House, and my relationships
in the House will be very instrumental in making sure
that we are able to negotiate and navigate things within
the Senate. Because right now, you're right, Democrats don't even

(01:03:39):
have to show up at the State House. But come November, Republicans, yes,
come November, I'm confident that we can break that. So
in regards to my Senate seat, you have to know
how to navigate the committees, and I've done that. I've
worked with Republicans across to how to impact policies here
in the state of Indiana, such as House Bill eleven
thirty six that we had to fight Act about a

(01:04:01):
year or two ago. There was attempted to dissolve IPS
as well as some Falster Care issues. I've had to
work across the aisle. But here's the thing, Team that
a lot of people don't understand, and maybe even some
of my opponents. You have to know how to navigate
the power of amendments to get things done. When you
are in the super minority. That's your power, is the
gift of amendment and trying to get things in a

(01:04:23):
bill and have a Republican or leadership sponsor that bill
or support that amendment on the floor. And that's how
we navigate the minority.

Speaker 2 (01:04:33):
Three one seven, four eight zero thirteen ten three one seven,
four eight zero thirteen ten. Our guest Demetrius Hicks. He
is a candidate for Indiana State Senate District twenty nine.
Last week you heard from another Democratic candidate in that
very crowded field. Actually the Democrats are quite crowded field.
There's four ye.

Speaker 7 (01:04:53):
What sets you apart from the rest of.

Speaker 20 (01:04:55):
The field my age, the fact that I am actually
hold are thirty three, the fact that I'm actually an
elected official currently in the Senate, district that I seek
to serve as a senator. That's huge, having that electability piece,
making sure that I have voter turnout in the primary
and in the November general election. I'm already doing the work.

(01:05:18):
A lot of people talk about what they will do.
I'm already doing that work, serving my community, and the
only candidate that's endorsed by eight state lawmakers currently for
this particular seat. So having the legislative experience, the fiscal experience,
and the political backing and support from those within the caucus.

Speaker 2 (01:05:37):
When you were running early on in some other races areas,
that age that you pointed to as an advantage was
somewhat talked against you as a disadvantage because you were
so young. So how do you reconcile that now you're
still quite young? I mean, I don't know what the
average age of state lawmakers, but it's not thirty three,

(01:05:58):
So it really do you get folks to trust your
age against some of the more experience that might even
be just six or seven years older than you.

Speaker 20 (01:06:08):
Well, we have to remember JD was around my age
when he ran for senator, and one I think he
was thirty four. I'm thirty three, so we elected someone
young before to this district and he's been a breath
of fresh air. Secondly, I don't think my age is
the de terns. I think my age attracts people because
here's the thing. We talk about representation and young people
should do this. Young people should step up. It's the

(01:06:29):
young people's time. But you have to make room for us.
I'm not saying, hey, listen, let's only have people at
a certain age. I'm simply saying, if you have a
young person that's experienced, qualified, and is ready to serve
the community, come stand with me. The fact that I
am the only elected official in this district that's actually
a candidate seeking to go to higher office to impact

(01:06:50):
larger change is significant to me. So it's not the terns.

Speaker 7 (01:06:54):
What do you say to your age when you're a millennial?
Right roughly?

Speaker 2 (01:06:58):
Yeah, okay, late late millennial. I'm tried, Eric, you got
that chart in there, let me find.

Speaker 7 (01:07:07):
But I get them all confused.

Speaker 2 (01:07:09):
I know the boomers and the ex anyway, So to
people of your your age group, your generation not necessarily
the best at getting to the polls, voting, getting involved
in the process.

Speaker 7 (01:07:23):
What do you say to that.

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
And how do you, is that a concern of yours?
And and how do you how would you work to
change well.

Speaker 20 (01:07:31):
Any age that's not voting as a concern of mine.
We have people that are sixty five that are just
completely disengaged from the process. We have those that are
totally engaged. So my goal is to bring out as
many voters as possible for every election, not just mine.
We have to have voter turnout. People died for the
right to vote, you know, people suffered for the right

(01:07:53):
to vote. My grandparents were community activists, so servitude is
in me. I would just encourage people come out and vote,
regardless of your age. If you're legally able to vote
in the United States of America, come out vote. We
talk about good trouble everywhere all the time, and my
saying is good trouble is not a spectator sport. It
requires all hands on decks. So come out and vote,

(01:08:14):
regardless of your age.

Speaker 7 (01:08:16):
Come out and vote.

Speaker 2 (01:08:17):
Easier said, so, what do you think of the voter
participation up to this point from what you've been seeing
and hearing in terms of the primary.

Speaker 20 (01:08:26):
I've been getting grave feet. Yeah, I've been getting great feedback.
People have told me, oh, we've seen you in the community. Oh,
thanks for holding your town hall. Thanks for sending out
this message. We need more young virant blood at the
state House. I've been getting good responses, and my goal
is regardless if I get elected, I have to represent
everybody right, regardless of their age, color, creed, whatever, I

(01:08:46):
have to represent them.

Speaker 2 (01:08:48):
Everybody in the And tell me where your district again,
because one of your you know, one of your fellow
candidates was talking about I don't know if we outline
the district or not. Can you tell me what that
district encompasses so that folks in those particular areas can
pay special attention to what you're seeing. And again, if
you have questions of the candidate, three, one, seven, four, eight, zero, thirteen,

(01:09:12):
ten is the number. The lines are open for that,
So go ahead.

Speaker 20 (01:09:15):
Sure so district. Senate District twenty nine includes Marion County,
which encompassed parts of Pike Township on the Eagle Creek,
Turner's Point area, Wayne Township, Boom County, which is Zionsville, Indiana,
and then Halmilton County, which is Carmel, Indiana Clay Clay
Township section of Carmel.

Speaker 7 (01:09:33):
Any particular challenges in that area.

Speaker 2 (01:09:35):
I know they just came through a data center struggle
battle that Pike Township residents eventually won o Pike any
other thing, because I also understand that it's becoming increasingly
crowded more and more with the high school perhaps more more.

Speaker 7 (01:09:58):
More of a need for maybe a second high school.
The township is growing very quickly.

Speaker 2 (01:10:04):
In addition to you know, the other areas that you're representing,
any particular challenges that you want to tackle right away
if you are elected.

Speaker 20 (01:10:11):
Yeah, the attacks on local government. I see this a
lot as an elected local elected official, and this is
something that has came up when I'm canvasing, holding town
halls or attending candidate forum. Attack on local government is
real and from the State of Indiana, and it has
to stop.

Speaker 7 (01:10:27):
So what we're seeing at the what do you mean?

Speaker 20 (01:10:29):
So what for example, the Indiana General Assembly just passed
to build this past session where Carmel could not regulate
their portion of rent rent controller basically, and we see
that here. We see that even here in Marion County
where they regulate where we can increase the minimum wage.
So although we have the Home Rule Act, the State
of Indiana often overreaches and attacks on local government saying

(01:10:52):
what they can and cannot do, instead of just allowing
the local leadership and that community to determine what's in
their best interest. So that is a huge issue that
I'm hearing from the district. Another issue that I think
is a major concern is the Eleak Project. The Elite
Project impacts Boone and Marion County. I have the.

Speaker 2 (01:11:12):
Opportunity to explain for those who may not be familiar
with the acronym.

Speaker 20 (01:11:15):
Oh sure, So the Eleak Project is designed to what
does this stamp limited? Oh god, you would ask me that.

Speaker 7 (01:11:22):
Well, yeah, I'm gonna.

Speaker 20 (01:11:23):
Have limited exploration. Oh god, I can't think. We've called
it the Leap project for so long.

Speaker 7 (01:11:31):
Yeah, let's look at it.

Speaker 20 (01:11:33):
So the Leak Project is backed by Sentences Energy, and
it's designed to have to take twenty five million gallons
of water from Eagle Creek Reservoir and send it back
to Boone County for their IT expansion, data centers, you
name it. And then the concern that we have here
in Marion County and Boone County is that the wastewater

(01:11:54):
will be returned back to Eagle Creek. The other concern
outside of the environmental aspect, Tina is that there's a
real possibility for eminent domain in Zionsville and part of
Pike Township because you have to have those pipelines to
make that water flow connect from Marion County to Boom County.
And no one wanted this, and there was no transparent

(01:12:16):
communication with local officials. It was something that was just hey,
here we are now, and it became a reality when
emminent domain letters start going out across the district. So
fighting that and pushing back on that is something that
I'm definitely standing with the community on as well as
making sure that the community is aware of who's backing

(01:12:38):
these type of programs with the Data Center and the LEAP,
and it's often the Indiana Chamber.

Speaker 2 (01:12:43):
LEAP stands for the Limitless Exploration Advanced Pace District. A
ten thousand acre plot of productive farmland farmland adjacent to
eleven and a long Interstate sixty five that is to
be converted into a massive industry park.

Speaker 7 (01:13:01):
So that's the LEAP project. So that that covers a
couple of different parts of your.

Speaker 20 (01:13:06):
It does, it does, and the water will be coming
directly from Eagle Creek to cool those those centers down.

Speaker 7 (01:13:12):
Yeah, yeah, so Eric you are. I'm sorry, Oh.

Speaker 6 (01:13:16):
You found it. What I was I was just going
to say the LEAP project, you got it. Limitless Exploration,
Advanced Pace, Research and Innovation District.

Speaker 7 (01:13:24):
Yeah, that's a name. Yeah, the lengthy, It is lengthy.

Speaker 2 (01:13:29):
I see why people say leaptly so uh so the
the but the the State House is always troublesome during
the district because the minority, the super minority, always comes
back and they talk about how they're they're just it's
just gridlock, and they're they're just there's not a whole

(01:13:52):
lot they can do and unless they can get the numbers.
Is strictly a numbers thing, and maybe once the numbers,
uh you know, even out because I don't think I
think everyone agrees that super majority is not good either way,
you know, be a Democrat or Republican, because it doesn't
force people to work together and legislate.

Speaker 7 (01:14:10):
And so, what are your.

Speaker 2 (01:14:12):
Thoughts on perhaps becoming a state lawmaker, a state legislator
for the very first time?

Speaker 20 (01:14:19):
Similar thought I had when I became an elected official
here in Pike Township. I just had to tackle the
day as is and try my hardest to serve the
community and advocate for their interests. I'm like a dog
with the bone when it comes to serving my community,
and that requires negotiation, that requires compromise, That requires standing
my ground when I need to stand my ground, and
that also requires me knowing how to read the room

(01:14:41):
in my audience and knowing what my powers are, what
my powers powers aren't, and operating from that center place.

Speaker 7 (01:14:48):
So you're currently the chair of the Pike Township Board.

Speaker 20 (01:14:51):
Yes, I am okay.

Speaker 7 (01:14:53):
How are things going there?

Speaker 2 (01:14:54):
Because that that is one of the most hotly contested
areas that you know, It's been in the news.

Speaker 7 (01:15:01):
Has the temperature cooled there at all?

Speaker 2 (01:15:03):
Because the dispute between the trustee and members of the board,
this stuff of news for the last two three years,
maybe even longer.

Speaker 20 (01:15:13):
Well, if it was longer, it predates me the last
two years, I will say a lot of.

Speaker 7 (01:15:20):
As board chair, how have you helped bring down the heat?

Speaker 20 (01:15:23):
Well, we haven't been in the news since I've been
the chair. We haven't had a lot of issues, per se.
I think that this is a thing, Tina, whenever you
have a new board and a completely new board, because
we were a completely new board going into an establishment.
You're going to have growing pains if someone is used

(01:15:43):
to doing things a certain way, and what the issue was.
We're not a rubber stamp. We are elected by the
people for the people, and we have to do a
job for the people. And so there was a growing pains,
is what I like to call them. And with growing pains,
you have to grow out of them a bit. And
I think that we're at the point where we've grown
out of those pains. I think there's been a lot

(01:16:04):
of misinformation, but the Board has always shown up, done
our job, try to work in areas and wherever we
had a disagreement, but we've always managed to get the
job done for Pike Township residents regardless of any internal conflicts.
We've done our job.

Speaker 7 (01:16:21):
Legislative or advisory capacity.

Speaker 20 (01:16:23):
Legislative, the Indiana Code states that we are the legislative body.
We are not an advisory body at all.

Speaker 7 (01:16:29):
You are so the board does not advise the board legislat.

Speaker 20 (01:16:33):
So the board. So by Indiana Code, we are considered
the Pike Township Board, which is the legislative and fiscal
body because we control the funds of the township and
we have the power of the resolution so by Indiana code,
we are considered the legislative body.

Speaker 10 (01:16:46):
We are not.

Speaker 2 (01:16:47):
But you've always the board has always been considered an
advisory in an advisory capacity, is it not?

Speaker 20 (01:16:54):
No, not, since I've been on that since I've been on,
that's not. Even when you elect us, it says Township Board.
And then when you look up what our roles are
and everything else, it clearly states the legislative body. So
as far as us being in an advisory capacity, simply
just advising that that's not the case.

Speaker 7 (01:17:12):
Okay, okay, how do people get in touch with you?

Speaker 2 (01:17:15):
Is there anything else you want to add that I
did not didn't get to because I want to make
sure you get all your information out there.

Speaker 20 (01:17:22):
Sure. I am qualified, I'm young, I'm vibrant, I'm experienced.
I got the energy and the experience. I'm the only candidate,
like I said earlier, Tina, that has the legislative and
fiscal body experience. I'm the only candidate that's currently serving
our community in District twenty nine as an elected official,
the only one that's endorsed by eight state lawmakers. So

(01:17:43):
I'm not going to have to get ready on day one.
I'll be ready to work with my fellow counterparts, and
my model is simple, help not harm, you know, so,
I believe in making sure I'm accessible to the people
advocating for the people. There's a variety of issues that
I've heard throughout the district that I plan to address.
So if anyone has any questions, they can reach me directly.

(01:18:07):
My information is info at Hicks for Indiana dot com.
They can reach me there, they can go to my
website Hicks for Indiana dot com, or they can reach
out to me through other means social media on my
phone number.

Speaker 7 (01:18:19):
Thirty second elevator speech to get voters to choose you.
What would it mean?

Speaker 20 (01:18:23):
Hicks is the pick? I experience. I have the capacity
to get the job done. And again, don't you don't
have to wait for me to get ready on day one.
I'll be ready and I would love to have your support.
Hicks is the pick on May fifth.

Speaker 2 (01:18:36):
Okay, alrighty, well, thank you for being here with us,
Congratulations on the campaign, and good luck tomorrow.

Speaker 7 (01:18:41):
Thanks jud alrighty, we'll be back with yet another candidate.
We got one more. We got one more, Claudette Peterson.

Speaker 20 (01:18:47):
Right after this, let's get back to the conversation.

Speaker 1 (01:18:55):
It's Community Connection with Tina Cosby, brought to you by
Child Advocate. It's a champion for justice, opportunity and well
being for children. On phrase Am thirteen, ten ninety five
point one FM.

Speaker 2 (01:19:08):
And we're back with Community Connection and Eric. As we said,
this is primary election day eve and we are working
in as many as we can possibly work in before
we have to say goodbye for today. So our final
candidate for the afternoon is Claudette Peterson. She is here
with us in studio, a Democrat running for Pike Township Trustee.

Speaker 7 (01:19:30):
Ms Peterson. Welcome to Community Connection. Glad to have you
with us today, Glad to be here.

Speaker 2 (01:19:34):
So tell us about yourself and why you are running.
This is this township trustees race is hotly contested.

Speaker 7 (01:19:41):
I tell you it's a there's a lot of fire
around that. And that's good.

Speaker 2 (01:19:45):
Because that's voter participation, that's passion, that's folks out there,
you know, engaging in the process, and that cannot be bad.

Speaker 7 (01:19:52):
So tell us about you.

Speaker 12 (01:19:54):
Yeah, no, that's not bad at all. Okay, Well, and again,
my name is Claudette Peters. I'm currently a Park Township
board member. This is my eighth year. I'm originally from
New York City. I'm about fighting for our community, our people,
our seniors, our young people, and I'm dedicated to service.

(01:20:17):
I've been in the service business, in infancy, civil service
since Poppy in nineteen seventy six, when I started as
a tennis instructor teaching black and brown kids in Harlem
and in Brooklyn Bepisteivesant. It's always been for me about people.
That's my number one goal is to make sure people
are being served, helped, and then we're engaging with the community.

Speaker 2 (01:20:41):
What brought you to Indiana and what made you want
to get involved right away again here in the Hoosier State.

Speaker 15 (01:20:49):
Yeah, that's a good question.

Speaker 12 (01:20:51):
First, I arrived here in nineteen ninety five. The company
I used to work for recruiting from including me from
Madison Square Garden to come here and to run the
security operation for the State of Indiana. So that's how
I got here. Security for State Physical Physical Security, the
name of the corporation I used to work for.

Speaker 7 (01:21:12):
Okay, oh yeah, okay, okay.

Speaker 12 (01:21:15):
So I ran a multi million dollar operation. I had
about eight hundred people working under me. My office was
on the South Side and I had customers across the
board at the time Senergy, which is now Duke Kroger,
American Electric Power, Marsh you name it.

Speaker 15 (01:21:37):
The convention Center was one of my bigger clients.

Speaker 12 (01:21:41):
So I have a best experience in the in the
business world.

Speaker 7 (01:21:45):
Yeah, in the business world. And so you've always lived
in Pike Township.

Speaker 12 (01:21:50):
Initially when I first moved here, I lived in Washington
and then I was visiting one of my client locations
at Kinnach with Foods back in nineteen ninety nine.

Speaker 15 (01:22:02):
Kind of it's on sixty second and.

Speaker 12 (01:22:07):
I'm trying to guy in vote yes, and I just
saw the subdivisions, the subdivision, condo subdivision being built, and
it's kind of walked into place and liked what I
saw and decided to go on and you know, buy
a condo.

Speaker 2 (01:22:24):
So so, what is it about Pike Township that makes
you want to become the next trustee?

Speaker 15 (01:22:31):
I think it's a great township.

Speaker 12 (01:22:32):
Yeah, it's very diverse, it's changing, which each and every
day is looking more and more like a Muchipolitan environment.
And what's really neat about Pike is that you know,
the center of Pike looks one way, you know, nothing
to the human landscape and you can go to another
section of Pike and not see another soul, you know,

(01:22:55):
and see some horses and maybe some buggies and things
of that nature. So Pike's very diverse. It's a lovely township.
I love living in Pike Township, I really do. And
it's very interesting because probably here in the next four
or five years, I'll be transitioning back to New York City.
Oh and and so I hate to leave Pike Township.

Speaker 7 (01:23:20):
So wait a minute, you're getting ready to move back
to No.

Speaker 15 (01:23:23):
I said about four or five six years.

Speaker 7 (01:23:25):
Oh, you'll be moving. So why do you want to
be township trustee?

Speaker 12 (01:23:29):
Because of the people in Pike Township needs help. We
have about twenty seven twenty five percent poverty with our
young people, about fourteen percent with our seniors. In two five,
four and two six eight we have those are the
populated areas when it comes to Pike Township. We have

(01:23:50):
about eighty three thousand people that live in Pike and
my thing is to help folks that are in need.

Speaker 2 (01:23:57):
You have the incumbent and another challenger in the race.
Can you let voters know you're asking for folks votes
who are in that district. Why why are you the
better candidate over the rest of the field.

Speaker 12 (01:24:11):
Because of my background, my experience, again like Demetrius, that
come from humble beginnings. I come from an environment where
you know, I was on welfare for like eight until
my until I was eighteen years old. So I have
a feel for people in the need of people. I'm

(01:24:32):
concerned about our seniors in Pike Township, like I said,
our youth, and with another of other groups of people.
But I'm just concerned and that's one of the reasons
why I'm running. Unfortunately, throughout the years, I've been fighting
the current trustee memphasis spending down the money to make
sure that people that are in need are getting the assistance.

(01:24:55):
And each and every year only about seventy percent of
the moneyes spent, so that means about thirty percent of
the money is still left behind, and when you have
poverty that's growing with each day because I think individuals
who are whereas Center Township becomes unaffordable, folks are moving

(01:25:18):
into Pipe and Wayne Township, and we need to address
the problem that we have in Pipe Township.

Speaker 7 (01:25:26):
I was I was asking mister Hicks.

Speaker 2 (01:25:29):
We had talked with others in this in you know,
in the field about bursting at the seams with the
high school of the population there, and then you're talking
about pipes growing, Pike's growing aging population.

Speaker 12 (01:25:43):
Any thoughts there in reference of the Asian population at.

Speaker 7 (01:25:47):
The aging and the high school.

Speaker 2 (01:25:49):
There's long been talk of Pike needing another high school,
and again one of your one of your challengers, has
said that the high school is bursting at the seams
and some other things. So yeah, there's some consideration. Any
any thoughts along those lines. I mean, you're talking about too,
you're talking about the aging population. I was just asking
about both. Your biggest concern about both.

Speaker 12 (01:26:11):
No, I mean, if that's what's needed. I have not
followed the numbers reference to the school itself, but I
do know that there was a wrong population in Pie Township,
and therefore I think they just recently built their new
school somewhere in Pike. I think about the center.

Speaker 2 (01:26:31):
They built the Freshman Center about fifteen years or so
ago to help with some of that, but now that
is at capacity capacity again according to one of your
challenges here.

Speaker 12 (01:26:43):
But there is another section of Pike Township. If I'm
not mistaken, that there was another school built, Okay, to
address that elementrantic Yes, countary School, Yes, yes, exactly, but yeah,
I mean again, I think Pike Township be one of
the fastest growing townships.

Speaker 7 (01:27:02):
Yeah, I was. I was curious either second fastest growing township.

Speaker 15 (01:27:06):
In Marrick County.

Speaker 7 (01:27:07):
Is that about? Is that right?

Speaker 10 (01:27:10):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (01:27:11):
I think it's about right.

Speaker 12 (01:27:12):
And therefore we need to address the population ads that's
coming to the township. And that's one of my challenges
with the current situation that we have in Pike Township.

Speaker 15 (01:27:23):
We are not.

Speaker 12 (01:27:25):
Focusing on the forecasting part of it. From a standpoint
of budgeting, we always budget based on a two to
three percent increase, but we never talk about inflation or
to make sure that our numbers are actually meeting the
standard that it needs to meet to impact someone's life.
So throughout the years, we budget based on and I'm

(01:27:49):
talking about in the emergency assistance because I kind of
hate that word poor relief. The emergency assistance, we've always
budgeted to three percent, when in the meantime inflation or
the apartment complexes were budgeting at eight percent and so
here recently we had to allocate another two hundred and
five thousand dollars to the budget because we did not

(01:28:11):
budget correctly for twenty twenty six.

Speaker 2 (01:28:15):
So you know, I find it, you know that that
is an interesting point in your candidacy that within the
next four to five years you're going to be moving on.
My question is how forward thinking do you plan to
be if you are elected as the trustee this year?
How forward thinking are you? Are you thinking that you
want a ten year plan, a fifteen year plan, or

(01:28:39):
you know, what is it that you want to put
in place, because as soon as you're if you are elected,
as soon as you're elected, you're going to be almost
ready to go. Well in a lot of people's you know,
a lot of people's minds. You know, you're thinking, well,
she's going to be gone in four or five years.

Speaker 12 (01:28:53):
Yeah, well, you know, again that's kind of the thought
in my head. But that's not something that's set in stone.
And so again back to forecasting. My thing is forecasting
into the future exactly, and and and also to work

(01:29:17):
with groups like chip Gleaners who do the policy maps,
who know what's ahead of us ship before you know,
the Homeless UH initiative that that the program that gets
out there, but engaging with these various not for profits.

Speaker 2 (01:29:36):
Is that something that's that's missing. Now, what in your
in your estimation, what is missing in terms of forward
movement for the township.

Speaker 15 (01:29:46):
Those are the kinds of things that are missing. We
do not engage with.

Speaker 12 (01:29:51):
The services that are necessary in Pike Township. We have this,
we still have this mindset that Pike doesn't have the
same problem as Center Township. I hear this all the
time for the current trustee. And so when you have
that kind of narrow thinking, you're never going to kind

(01:30:11):
of reach out any forests.

Speaker 7 (01:30:13):
Is any of it true?

Speaker 2 (01:30:15):
Because I would think that all townships have their that
have their unique set of challenges.

Speaker 7 (01:30:20):
So that is that true? I mean, that's not untrue.
I guess I don't know.

Speaker 12 (01:30:24):
We have the same problems as Pike townships as Senate Township.
Similar It's just it's just Senate Township is double the
size of Pike. Or we still have people in need, okay,
lots of people in need, Okay. On average, we may
get applications about sixteen hundred individuals about thirty three percent

(01:30:46):
thirty five percent are denied.

Speaker 15 (01:30:49):
And so when you have that kind of number.

Speaker 7 (01:30:52):
Is that process is processed?

Speaker 2 (01:30:54):
What's keeping the numbers down to seventy percent not allocated.

Speaker 7 (01:30:58):
Is it a process?

Speaker 12 (01:30:59):
It is there, There is a process, There's no doubt
about it. There's a process. You know, we have guidelines
that we have to go by. And so again, as
a as a business owner and as an.

Speaker 15 (01:31:10):
Individual who.

Speaker 12 (01:31:13):
Thinks beyond that particular number, we need to.

Speaker 15 (01:31:19):
Let people know.

Speaker 12 (01:31:20):
I think part of the problem we have in Pike
folks don't know. Okay, Okay, they just don't. We have
money that we put in the budget, prescription drugs money,
thousands of dollars every single year. Not one nickel has
ever been spent, not one nickel.

Speaker 15 (01:31:35):
Okay.

Speaker 12 (01:31:36):
So you think of a senior in Pike Township knew
that money was there, even if there's a process, would
not apply for money?

Speaker 7 (01:31:46):
Who SAIDs the process? And how does that work?

Speaker 2 (01:31:48):
I mean, is it something that the board could could
could help circumvent or is this state?

Speaker 15 (01:31:53):
No? This is this is based on.

Speaker 12 (01:31:57):
The trustees the trustees office. Also there's a state document. Okay, okay,
but my argument it's a guideline. Okay, there's discretion, Okay.

Speaker 15 (01:32:11):
Latitude latitude.

Speaker 12 (01:32:13):
You know, I talked to a number of a number
of voters this weekend where some of them told me
how they were denied for two dollars, for four dollars,
for twelve dollars, okay, and knowing that there's discretion there,

(01:32:34):
I was pretty upset that somebody would be denied because
they were off by two dollars or four dollars twelve dollars.

Speaker 2 (01:32:42):
If elected, you would like to exercise a lot more
discretionary latitude so that folks that are right up against
the boundaries would would not be excluded, Yes, and that
seventy percent of certain pools would not be left unused.

Speaker 7 (01:32:55):
Absolutely, absolutely, Okay, despite the process.

Speaker 12 (01:33:00):
I mean, you know, again there is a process. Yeah,
everything we do, but it's the latitude.

Speaker 2 (01:33:04):
But despite the process, the latitude pertaining to the bus, right, and.

Speaker 12 (01:33:09):
As long as there's there's there's a tracking system anomalous,
you know, it's just you know, we're just not just
give it out money just to be getting out money. Yeah,
so that there's a process that you have any paperwork
and all that kind of stuff. But all I'm saying
is I think it's a disservice to the community.

Speaker 20 (01:33:29):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:33:30):
Three one seven for zero thirteen ten, three one seven
for eight zero thirteen ten. Our guest is Claudette Peterson.
She is running for Pike Township trustee and she is
here asking for your vote. John, you have a question
for candidate Peterson.

Speaker 19 (01:33:44):
Go ahead, Yes, thanks for taking my call.

Speaker 21 (01:33:47):
I was just reminded and just wanted some clarity because
I think this kind of pertains to West, who's all
previously since he's the chairman of the board. Can you
kind of explain why the board would trying to give
themselves like a four hundred percent pay increase and it
seemed like the current trustee was the only one that

(01:34:08):
you know, was not in favor, and it just seemed
to be some hostility since we're talking about dollars and
efficiency and you know, having resources available for those in
the you know, at the point of need. Just wondering
if you could expound on that, because I think we
said there was some miscommunication, so maybe it was miscommunication, but.

Speaker 3 (01:34:26):
It was classed it all over the.

Speaker 21 (01:34:29):
Each news station, so it was just wondering, you know,
really what that was about.

Speaker 9 (01:34:32):
Thank you.

Speaker 10 (01:34:33):
I'll pick the call up here.

Speaker 12 (01:34:34):
Thank you, John, Yeah, thank you for the question. Mister John. First,
let me make it clear there was no four hundred
percent increase that was requested. And when we sat down
last year to work on the township budget for twenty

(01:34:54):
twenty six, as mister president, my president said Dimitris Hicks
that we were just basing that particular allocation on other townships.
Where you have some townships that are receiving life insurance,

(01:35:20):
they're receiving they're part of the pension plan.

Speaker 15 (01:35:23):
You have some townships.

Speaker 12 (01:35:25):
Up north where some of the board members are receiving
twenty thousand dollars a year, twenty eight thousand dollars a year.
You have some townships right here in Marion County that
are receiving close to eleven thousand. So all we were
doing is basing our the allotment based on the other townships,

(01:35:46):
and we were just basing it on a twelve percent
increase with the current trustees salary.

Speaker 2 (01:35:53):
Okay, three one seven for eight zero thirteen ten, three
one seven for eight zero thirteen ten. Our guess this segment.
Claudete Peterson, she is running for trustee of Pike Township
and is here asking for your vote, and we'll take
your questions.

Speaker 7 (01:36:06):
Tony, you have a question for miss Peterson.

Speaker 22 (01:36:10):
Well, it's not really a question, it's just I just
wanted to get out, and I know Miss Peterson and
mister Demetrius Higgs, and I'm just urging everyone, first of all,
to get out and vote.

Speaker 11 (01:36:20):
Is your rights.

Speaker 22 (01:36:21):
We have people that died for us to be in
this situation. Secondly, to get out and vote because as
my old boss used to say, if you have a problem,
don't come in his office unless you've got a solution.
So we need to get out and vote. I support
Miss Claude at Peterson and Miss Demestris h and mister
Demetrius Hicks. So I'm urging all of my family, my friends,

(01:36:41):
my colleagues who live in Pike Township to please get
out and vote for Claude Peterson for Pike Township Trustee
and mister Demetrius Hicks for Senate twenty nine.

Speaker 12 (01:36:50):
Okay, thank you, mister Tony, appreciate that.

Speaker 7 (01:36:54):
Okay, good Tony, thank you very much. Well, before we have.

Speaker 2 (01:36:58):
To wrap up, we have your information, and as I
ask of mister Hicks, your your elevator speech, but first
your information for volunteers, folks who want to find out
more about you prior to tomorrow.

Speaker 12 (01:37:09):
Yes, you can reach me at Peterson for Pike Trustee
dot com. You can also meet me at KK Services
at SBC global dot net. I'm not sure if I'm
supposed to give out my personal phone number.

Speaker 7 (01:37:27):
If you want to do what you can if you
have another an alternate.

Speaker 12 (01:37:30):
But those are two ways of getting in contact with me.

Speaker 15 (01:37:36):
And we would love to have some volunteers.

Speaker 7 (01:37:38):
So you have a campaign website yes.

Speaker 12 (01:37:40):
Uh huh, Peterson for Pike Trustee dot com. Okay, and
we're looking for volunteers for tomorrow. We'd love to get
some help from you all.

Speaker 2 (01:37:53):
Hey, your thirty second elevator speech, if you got me
on an elevator and give me thirty seconds as to
why I should vote for.

Speaker 12 (01:37:58):
You should vote for me because, first and foremost, miss Tina,
because I know you live in Pike Township, I do, okay,
Because the trustees position is a very serious position, yes, okay,
And it is probably the only local position that could

(01:38:23):
impact one's life, whether it's one person or it's two
hundred people. And it is so important to have the
right candidate, you know, running for this office and winning.

Speaker 15 (01:38:35):
Okay.

Speaker 12 (01:38:36):
And I missed an individual who care about people. I
have in some cases taken my own personal money to
help families who have been denied by the trustees' office.
I have made contributions to Pike Township to their pantry

(01:38:56):
the first couple of years when we're going to through COVID.
I've sponsored dinner for our firefighters for two years.

Speaker 15 (01:39:04):
In a row.

Speaker 12 (01:39:05):
I've given back to lunch within Sanders with our you know,
folks that are kind of living on the on the edge.
And so I'm a giver. I care, okay, And my
thing is it's it's it's it's total important that we
we we select the right person. And I love individuals vote.

(01:39:28):
I like to end with this, you know. And I
think it's Isabella Ritchie her book Missus Daimond, where the
quote is, give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day. Show a man how to fish
and you feed him for a lifetime. But but they

(01:39:49):
failed to realize that someone who's poor, who's going to
give him the fishing lot?

Speaker 15 (01:39:54):
Okay? And I want to be that fishing lot.

Speaker 2 (01:39:57):
All right, Well, thank you very much. It's it's an
interesting field. Three are vuying for your vote. You live
in Pike Township for Pike Township Trustee and you just
heard from the final one, Claudete Peterson, the final one
for this show. We've heard from Claudette Peterson, We've heard
from the incumbent and the challenge, the other challenger, Melanie

(01:40:19):
Barbara Hints incumbent and Ed Johnson.

Speaker 7 (01:40:21):
So there you have it.

Speaker 2 (01:40:23):
Thank you all, so so much, mister Hicks, Thank you,
Miss Peterson, Good luck to everyone. Okay, go ahead. Oh
you were just saying thank you, Eric. By the way,
I wanted to remind folks again the primary is tomorrow.

Speaker 7 (01:40:38):
Voting.

Speaker 2 (01:40:40):
Polls open at six am close at six pm.

Speaker 7 (01:40:43):
I don't know if.

Speaker 2 (01:40:44):
They're still taking applications or requests to help become a
poll worker, but I'm going to give it out there
one more time. You could earn up to two hundred
and forty dollars to help your neighbors vote. To learn
more of is it poll worker Indie dot gov, poll
worker Indie dot gov, pullworker Indie dot gov. And so

(01:41:07):
they still may be taking, you know, request for applications.
And again this is paid and not asking you to volunteer.

Speaker 7 (01:41:14):
Volunteers are important.

Speaker 4 (01:41:15):
Oh, definitely need volunteers.

Speaker 7 (01:41:17):
Yeah, we need volunteers.

Speaker 2 (01:41:18):
But folks need to get paid too, So they want
to get they want to get their their you know,
community service and civic service in there and uh and certainly, uh,
there's there's money out there to pay you to help out.
So again, if they are still taking applications and you
could use up to two hundred and forty dollars. Tomorrow

(01:41:39):
from six eight to six p you can go to
this website pullworker Indie dot gov Indie.

Speaker 4 (01:41:46):
Vote Vote Vote, Vote, vote vote.

Speaker 7 (01:41:49):
Cannot say it enough votes? Have you voted?

Speaker 4 (01:41:51):
Jed Eric, I'm going to vote tomorrow.

Speaker 6 (01:41:54):
I usually do that. It's like election day. I'm like,
they're with all the action, all the activity.

Speaker 4 (01:41:58):
I'm going to vote tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (01:41:59):
Like I said, I've already voted, but I like all
the action and activity anyway, So I go through and
see what's going on and what everybody's doing, and how
many people have shown up.

Speaker 7 (01:42:09):
I think, you know, just already.

Speaker 2 (01:42:12):
According to an Abduel is coming on Tuesday to Wednesday. Wednesday,
Abdula is going to be on Wednesday, and he's going
to give us the best numbers that he has. But
it's clear people are interested. People are voting this primary.
Even though Indiana ranks low in terms of primary voter turnout,
usually forty nine or fifty. I don't see as going

(01:42:34):
to number one, but I certainly hope that we have
an improvement on that.

Speaker 4 (01:42:38):
Not number one would be nice, nice, number two would
be nice.

Speaker 2 (01:42:43):
Eric, I'd be happy for I would be happy for thirty,
the middle of the pack.

Speaker 7 (01:42:51):
I would be happy for that. Any improvement is appreciated.

Speaker 2 (01:42:54):
But again, we have tried to bring as many as
possible to come for your vote, and they have done
a All of our candidates have done a phenomenal job.

Speaker 7 (01:43:04):
Now it's now it's up to you.

Speaker 4 (01:43:06):
That's true.

Speaker 7 (01:43:07):
It's up to our voters.

Speaker 2 (01:43:08):
And if you haven't voted already, you got all datamrow
vote centers vote dot Indy dot gov.

Speaker 7 (01:43:13):
This is for Indianapolis only, vote dot Indy dot gov.

Speaker 2 (01:43:16):
If you go to that website Indianapolis and Marion County only.
Now the surrounding counties you can go to Indiana voters
dot i in dot gov for all of our Donut
counties and everyplace else the rest.

Speaker 7 (01:43:27):
I did not fall. Watch my watch. It's actually you know,
it's telling me you fail call emergency. No, I did
not do it. I'm just moving my arms. I'm just
talking to you. You know, they say you fail, you fail.

Speaker 4 (01:43:38):
Oh, speaking of.

Speaker 6 (01:43:39):
That, we welcome Celebration of Choirs to Cluse Memorial Hall.

Speaker 4 (01:43:43):
That's coming up on me.

Speaker 7 (01:43:44):
First.

Speaker 6 (01:43:46):
You can get tickets right now and Cluse Memorial Hall
box office. It's open Wednesday ten am until four. You
can also go to www dot djgo dot net and
you know what, we.

Speaker 2 (01:43:57):
May pull a couple of strings and get one more
ticket distribution.

Speaker 7 (01:44:01):
We've already had two.

Speaker 4 (01:44:02):
Yeah, maybe if he comes in, you know, he'll he'll
go hey.

Speaker 2 (01:44:05):
Tonight, He'll say, Tina, Tina, come on now, And I'm like, okay.

Speaker 7 (01:44:10):
Give me some tickets.

Speaker 4 (01:44:11):
Talk to promotion, yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:44:12):
Talk to Yeah. So hopefully we can we can get
that done.

Speaker 2 (01:44:15):
But yeah, we want to make sure that you have
an opportunity to take advantage of that.

Speaker 7 (01:44:18):
But right now, please please please.

Speaker 2 (01:44:21):
Make pans in the vote. And there are over one
hundred vote centers out there. Find one here in Indianapolis
and Marion County, and then find one somewhere else wherever
you are, wherever you are. That's all the time we
have for right now until tomorrow.

Speaker 7 (01:44:37):
I'm Tina Cosby in This is community Connection

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Community Connection - May 4 2026 - Tina Cosby with Cordelia Lewis-Burks Ryan Mears Claudette Peterson and Demetrice Hicks

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Community Connection - May 4 2026 - Tina Cosby with Cordelia Lewis-Burks Ryan Mears Claudette Peterson and Demetrice Hicks