Council Switch

By: Mike Dunn and Angie Calvert

After he withdrew from the Republican Party in February, City County Councilman Ed Coleman made history when he became the first Libertarian to hold this position. Sparking national attention, he represents over a million citizens as an at-large councilman - more than any other Libertarian politician in the United States. Many said he was committing political suicide for joining a third party in a two-party system. Others think it is about time a politician started thinking with a conscience.

Coleman believes today’s Republican Party to be very different from the party he joined many years ago. His discontent with the party lies, with the leadership and their decisions. “The GOP chairman has more power than the council president,” Coleman said. “I was told to keep quiet by GOP leadership when I questioned the relationship between the Capital Improvement Board and Barnes and Thornburg, LLP.” He left the GOP in search of a more fiscally conservative party that respects individual rights. Finding the Democrat Party lacking in these attributes, he found what he was looking for in the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party belief in small government and less taxes also appeals to him. He considers himself a fiscal conservative and social moderate.

As a graduate from Warren Central High School and life-long resident of Indianapolis, Coleman became interested in the City Council position because he had a desire to serve people. As a veteran he served three years in the United States Navy and seven years in the Indiana National Guard. Presently, he is a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and AM Vets. Having graduated from Ivy Tech Community College, he is also a registered nurse.
Coleman sees his family and community as top priorities. He has been married to Kerri Coleman for ten years. They share a daughter and a son. When asked to give advice to citizens who are seeking political involvement outside of the two-party system, Coleman says to get involved in your local community and serve the people, not the party. “Do what is right for the people around you first,” he states. “Don’t worry about the two parties, and fix what is going on at home.”

Coleman does plan on running for re-election in 2011 as an at-large candidate for the Libertarian Party of Marion County. He does not want to run as a district councilman because he thinks the current councilman in his district does a good job in his position. “If a councilor is doing a good job I think he should stay in his position,” Coleman states.