Melton announces he’s running for Gary mayor
Pledges to empower people to help restore city ‘to her true glory’
J’s Breakfast Club was standing room only Wednesday night when an energized crowd of more than 100 cheered an announcement by state Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, that he plans to run for mayor.
Chanting “Ready for Eddie” and holding signs reading “Melton for Mayor” and “Gary Deserves Better Now” the crowd cheered when Melton’s wife Crystal introduced him.
“See, it’s impossible to be an effective leader without vision. Eddie has a vision for economic development for our city,” Crystal
Melton said.
Melton, who first was elected to the state Senate in 2016, offered a flashback of his youth growing up on the city and shared his memories of the Gary’s better days, when parks were open, businesses were occupied, doctors offices were open, retail stores thrived and multiple grocery stores provided access to healthy, fresh food. Melton, who is Manager of Governmental and Community Relations for NIPSCO, launched a run for governor in June 2019 but ended his candidacy in January 2020.
“I remember shopping at The Village … I remember the parades
… I remember the skating rink and having a place to go to socialize with my friends … ” Melton said. Parks had pools, well maintained tennis courts and basketball courts, he said, and it is time to return the city back to its heyday.
“How will we restore Gary to her true glory? We will empower and build up her people. When we build up her people, people build up communities,” said Melton, who added that without proper leadership in city hall, it cannot be achieved.
“That leadership cannot wait another four years. We need that leadership now,” Melting said.
“That’s why I’m running for mayor of the city of Gary. I love
this city. I’ve dedicated my life to serving the people of Gary,” Melton said, choking up a little. “And I don’t regret it.”
Melton said the city must support residents in covering their basic needs and ensure the police and fire department are properly staffed, resourced and trained.
He said the city must respond promptly and earnestly address basic human and municipal services like sidewalk repair, tearing down vacant buildings, creating usable parks, installing working streetlights and creating a vibrant transportation system.
While Melton did not share any concrete plans for how he would accomplish the change he said the city needs, he said he would bring home what he learned and accomplished in the state senate to lead the city back to glory if elected.
“There will be no opportunities wasted,” Melton said.
Gary Mayor Jerome Prince, who has yet to formally declare his bid for reelection, but who does have signs reading Prince 2023, declined to comment.
“I’m going to continue to run the city like I’ve done the last two and half years. I’m going to focus on the challenges here, continue to work toward new opportunities and continue to improve,” Prince said.