Marion County Democratic infighting: Black officials, clergy groups take complaints to DNC

A contingent of Black Democrats and clergy groups in Indianapolis plan to take their complaints over the local Democratic party chair to the Democratic National Committee, escalating the inner-party rift that has grown alongside a competitive primary race for Marion County clerk.

The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and the Baptist Minister's Alliance renewed calls for the resignation of Marion County Democratic Party Chair Kate Sweeney Bell on Tuesday, calling for the first ever Black chair to be selected as party leader instead.

The action continues to highlight tension within the party, as some Indianapolis Democrats have cried foul over what they see as the conflict of interest that Sweeney Bell holds by serving as a local party chair while also running for Marion County clerk.

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As party chair, Sweeney Bell has the power to appoint the precinct committee people who in turn voted to give her the party's formal endorsement in the upcoming primary election. She was the sole Democrat to seek the party's endorsement for clerk.

Sweeney Bell said in the past that she herself understands the frustrations over "long-held traditions" as someone who once ran against a party-endorsed candidate.

She has also noted the party's diverse ticket of endorsed candidates for the upcoming election.

In a statement, Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Drew Anderson said the party regularly hears from people seeking guidance on party rules.

"Correspondence on this issue was provided in February, and any group or individual should not hesitate to contact the state party if clarification or discussion on party rules is needed," Anderson said.

The Democratic National Committee did not immediately return a request for comment.

But the fallout within the party has also highlighted a racial divide as well: the Concerned Clergy group and other Democrats have taken issue with the local Democratic party's diversity recruitment efforts, claiming that the party leader has consistently appointed Democratic officials in a manner that promotes insider politics and isolates candidates of color.

The criticisms prompted former state senator Billie Breaux to come out of retirement and enter the clerk's race against Sweeney Bell.

Rep. Cherrish Pryor, who tried in vain to pass legislation at the state level that would have forbid the county party chair from seeking or holding elected office, said the state party did not see an issue when presented with the concerns over Sweeney Bell. Now, officials plan to take their concerns to the Democratic National Committee by the end of the week.

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"We cannot continue to be Democrats and hide our heads in the sand and say that there's nothing wrong when we know that there is," Pryor said. "The only way to resolve problems is to actually say that there are problems, to give them acknowledgement and to try to find a way to address them."

In a statement, Sweeney Bell did not address the renewed calls for her resignation but said she's run a positive primary campaign.

"Since I launched my Clerk's campaign last year I have said that I'm not running against anyone — I'm running for the voters of Marion County," she said. "That's why we've run a completely positive primary campaign and will continue to do so."

The clergy groups and other Democrats also called on Congressman André Carson to respond to "immoral and unethical acts" happening within the local party. In a statement, Carson acknowledged that people of color have struggled to elevate their voices amid institutional racism.

"While acknowledging our differences is paramount to the success of the party, we must remain committed to moving forward as a united front in order to tackle the external forces that threaten to dismantle our communities," he said.

Fractured party

The latest call for change within the party continues to highlight the tension between high-ranking members of the local Democratic party's status quo and those frequently finding themselves on the outside of its power structure.

Some within the party see the issue as one of fairness and access to resources. Other see the rift as a power struggle created by people who have an axe to grind with the party.

City-county councilor Monroe Gray called on Mayor Joe Hogsett, the city's top Democrat, to request Sweeney Bell's resignation.

"Hopefully you will do the right thing," said Gray, who recently voiced agitation with members of his party over a newly proposed council map that draws his district into competition with fellow Democrat Keith Potts. "Kate Sweeney Bell has the right to run, but Billie Breaux has the right to win."

Hogsett did not immediately return a request for comment.

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The letter to the Democratic National Committee will outline a few possible resolutions, Pryor said, including establishing a conflict of interest directive to the state.

Gray and others also took issue over a campaign email sent out by Zach Adamson, vice president of the council, that warns that Trump allies are targeting clerk races to control the ballot boxes in 2024.

While the email appears to reference Republican attempts to control local election offices across the country, Gray and others argue that due to its timing before this primary race, it likened Breaux to a Trump supporter. The email did not mention Breaux or the primary race.

"I don't think (there's) no way you can read that and find that it's not geared to the people that are supporting Billie Breaux," Gray said.

Adamson said the intent of the email was not to target Breaux or the primary race at all.

"Their interpretation of that is the biggest of stretches on the best of days," he said.

In a statement, Sweeney Bell reiterated the claims in Adamson's message.

"Let me be crystal clear: Donald Trump and his Republican allies are a real threat to voting access here and across the country, and Democrats in Marion County overwhelmingly agree," she said. "As clerk, I will continue the fight against their voter suppression efforts."

The primary election is May 3.

Call IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or email her at apakharvey@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmeliaPakHarvey.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Officials take party chair issues to Democratic National Committee