Two candidates are running for Indianapolis County City Council District 24: Democrat Dominique Davie and Republican incumbent Mike Dilk.
Davie, 33, currently works as a controls systems technician for Amazon.
Dilk is the current Councilman for District 24. He took office in 2019. A lifelong resident of Perry Township, he has experience in finance and real estate. Councilman Dilk has served on the Perry Township Board of Merit and is a member of the Southside GOP Club.
The Indianapolis Recorder and WFYI sent each candidate six questions to help voters learn more. Davie’s survey responses are below. Dilk did not respond to the survey.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for style and grammar, and numbers used have been checked for accuracy. When a statement required further clarification or could not be independently verified, WFYI contacted candidates before publication. These instances, and these candidates’ responses, are noted throughout the editor’s notes, marked with an * and presented in italics.
Early voting began on October 11. Election day is November 7.
DOMINIQUE DAVIE
What are the top concerns voters in your district have shared with you, and what issues do you think will affect them the most over the next 2-3 years?
Many of the constituents I have spoken with are hard-working people who value safety and quality of life. District 24 is very diverse and has many issues to address, ranging from federal to local issues. However, some of the issues discussed are the lack of safety in our communities, the impact of inflation on families struggling to pay their monthly bills, reliable and accessible public transportation, and safe routes for cyclists. I have also spoken with constituents regarding access to mental health support and support for families who want their children to receive a high-quality education in our public and charter schools. We must invest in the community to see it improve, and that is what I will strive to do as a city-county councilor.
Affordable housing is a major issue in Indianapolis. What steps should the council take to remedy this situation?
I believe we need to challenge the system that afflicts thousands of renters and homeowners, not only in District 24, but throughout Marion County. Most landlords will tell you that inflation rates are based on market prices. With increased construction of single-family homes and a number of apartment buildings throughout the county, one would expect rates to decline as demand decreases. But we haven’t seen that progression yet.
We must end predatory investing and ensure Hoosiers can purchase affordable housing and rent homes in residential complexes and multi-family complexes at rates that do not exceed 1/3 of the head of household’s monthly income. and hopefully one day ¼ of their monthly income.
What is your biggest concern about public safety in Indianapolis? What steps do you plan to take as a board member to address this?
One of the biggest problems this city has faced for years is not unique to our city. This is a problem across the country; and that’s gun violence. Mayor Hogsett has done a great job leading the movement to take guns out of the hands of people who seek to harm themselves or others. A constant flow of weapons comes into our city and lands in the hands of many young people. IMPD’s efforts to get these weapons off the streets have been remarkable. There is no magic solution to this problem. This situation must be managed pragmatically to avoid targeting law-abiding citizens through investigative and policing methods, which could harm the relationship that is being built between law enforcement. order and the community as a whole.
We must also combat the influx of deadly drugs into our city. Drug use containing fentanyl is killing people in our communities at alarming rates. We must work with law enforcement to find the source and stop their ability to poison our city. The city has already taken steps to mitigate the dangers of our law enforcement responding to calls regarding mental health issues. The Crisis Response Team does an excellent job ensuring our citizens receive the support they need and helping law enforcement better address the range of security issues public. We need to make sure these groups are funded and well supported by the entire community.
What specific actions will you take to address environmental concerns in your district that affect the quality of life and life expectancy of your constituents?
It takes a consistent effort by local officials and public agencies to ensure the city is in optimal condition. We have already seen bridge replacements and improvements to the cleanliness and walkability of the neighborhood. However, there is still much to do. We need to ensure that the condition of our pipes does not deteriorate, and if they need to be replaced or if their replacement is on the Department of Public Works’ schedule, that these projects are carried out and in a manner that does not interfere with not the residents for very long periods.
We also need to ensure that every public road has space for pedestrians and cyclists. Many of our constituents want to live healthy lives, and their pursuit of happiness in this regard should not be hindered by a lack of pathways that connect them to neighborhood resources or dangerous roads. We also need to make sure the roads are safe for the thousands of commuters who use them every day. A number of traffic transitions and roundabouts need to be redeveloped. We have quite high traffic levels in the area and need roundabouts large enough and designed so that drivers can navigate safely in heavy traffic.
What specific steps will you take to connect minority-owned businesses in Indianapolis with contracts for city projects? How else will you support growth opportunities for minority-owned businesses?
Indianapolis is a city in constant evolution. There are a number of projects underway and it is important for us to ensure that the bidding process is inclusive of minority-owned businesses. We must ensure that competition is permitted through the selection process. It is important to consider the current workload and previous projects completed when selecting contractors. It is therefore equally important to ensure that all companies have opportunities to grow their portfolio and that projects are distributed among the best large companies, small companies, national and local contractors. I would also like to see a program that promotes and leverages the incredible power of using local and minority entrepreneurs. The development of these companies will only increase their capacity to evolve, contribute to the Made in America movement and their capacity to become national and international players.
There are a number of systemic issues that minority business owners face even today. Although, as a minority, I consider us extremely resilient. However, we must ensure that barriers to licensing and permitting are removed. We must ensure that our local agencies are operating as efficiently as possible to create an environment in which minority business owners can thrive. Local programs specifically focused on minority-owned small business development should operate with the intention of helping these businesses operate effectively and scale.
What would you like to see happen for K-12 education in Indianapolis, and how would you work as a city councilor to make it happen?
Education is a sensitive topic for many Americans and certainly for Hoosiers across the state. My goal is to work with the Indianapolis County City Council to secure funding for our public and municipal school systems; and programs that will increase the district’s capacity to expand STEM programs that will better prepare our youth for tomorrow.
It is also important to ensure that every student receives the best education possible. We must protect our educational resources to ensure that every book and topic is available to every student who wants to explore it.
I would also like to see a bridge built between our education systems, our professional training institutions and our unions. Together, they can help provide students with alternative post-secondary pathways to college and the military.
