Rebel Without a Caucus
Libertarian At-large City-County Councilor Ed Coleman may find himself literally being a party of one at Monday night’s Council meeting.
Coleman switched parties from Republican to Libertarian two weeks ago. Since making the change there has been a question as to whether Coleman would be able to keep his Council committee assignments. He currently sits on Rules and Metropolitan Development.
Marion County Libertarian County Chairman Tim Maguire sent a letter to Council President Bob Cockrum asking that Coleman being recognized as a member a minority party and he be allowed to keep his committee assignments, which Council rules say must have a minority party member on them.
However, Cockrum tells me that the rules are set up for a two-party system, not three. And since Coleman was appointed as a Republican and has left the majority party there is no real reason for him to keep those assignments. Therefore Republicans are asking the Democrats, the minority party, if they want to have Coleman caucus with them and make his committee assignments.
When I spoke to Council Minority Leader earlier in the week show told she had not received the formal request yet, however she said it is very unlikely Democrats would assign Coleman to any committees because he is not a Democrat, nor does he reflect their values or priorities.
This entire matter is expected to be resolved Monday at the Council’s Committee on Committees which ultimately signs off on all committee assignments. It consists of Cockrum, Sanders and Majority Leader Lincoln Plowman.
