Two new members were selected for the Gary Common Council at a packed Democratic caucus Thursday night at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center.
Democratic precinct committee members selected Oliver Gilliam and Jerimiah King to fill vacancies in the council’s 3rd District and at-large seats, respectively. Both will serve the remainder of the current terms, which end next year. Municipal elections will be held May 4, 2027.
Gilliam, the widower of Councilwoman Mary Brown, was unanimously selected in a 6-0 vote over Norman Hairston and Kerry Rice. Brown’s death in early October left the 3rd District seat open for Thursday’s caucus.
After being sworn in Thursday, Gilliam told reporters he does not intend to seek election in May, but he plans to complete his wife’s unfinished work.
King, a member of the Gary Plan Commission and a former Gary Redevelopment Commission member, secured the at-large seat vacated by Darren Washington, who won his election to the Lake County Council on Tuesday.
King prevailed in the second round of voting when he received 21 of 40 votes after no candidate received a majority in the first round. His opponents included LaJuan Clemons, Marcus Williams, and LaVetta Sparks-Wade, who was eliminated after the opening round.
In his message to caucus members, King emphasized civic engagement and improving residents’ quality of life. King told reporters he’s excited to see the city grow further but did not say whether he will seek election when council terms expire next year.
Another change will be coming to the council before the end of the year. 6th District Councilman Dwight Williams will be leaving his seat after winning election to the Lake County Council on Tuesday. Lake County Democratic Chair Mike Repay said Democrats will hold another caucus later this month to fill that vacancy.
