Safety Director York to seek City Council seat
Will run as Democrat in GOP-leaning 4th District
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 - 11:52 am
Fort Wayne could be getting a new high-profile City Council member. But if it does, it will need a new safety director.
Former Police Chief Rusty York, who as safety director has overseen the police and fire departments since late 2013, said he will file Wednesday as a candidate for 4th District City Council in the May Democratic primary. If elected in November, he would be required to resign as safety director but said he is leaning toward retiring at the end of the year one way or another.
"At my age (63), this would be a good transition for me," York said. "With my experience, I work well with both parties and both the city and county. I'm looking for a new challenge."
The 4th District is currently represented by Republican Mitch Harper, who is not seeking re-election in order to run for mayor.
"It's more of a Republican district, but a lot depends on how the mayor's race goes. It could influence the district race," said Councilman John Crawford, R-at large. York, Crawford said, has not been perceived as partisan, which could also help him. "When he told me he was running, I asked: 'As a D or an R?' " he added.
Republican Chairman Steve Shine, however, said York's record could hurt him politically.
"He will have to explain to voters his record of fighting crime. We had one of the highest homicide rates on his watch (as chief)," Shine said, referring to the county's 44 homicides in 2013.
Allen County Democratic Chairman John Court, however, said York's long public-safety service and lack of political identity will serve him well, as will the city's recent acquisition of Aqua Indiana, the private utility that has provided often-criticized water to the southwest Allen County area that incorporates the fourth district. "I'm really excited about Rusty running," Court added.
The city eliminated the safety director position in 2000, but restored it in 2013 before naming Garry Hamilton as the city's first black police chief, a move Henry has credited for the improved relations and communication with the minority community that may have helped reduce the homicide rate in 2014.
York joined the police force in 1975 and served as a detective and public information officer. A graduate of the FBI Academy and unsuccessful candidate for state representative in 1996, he was a retired captain when then-Mayor Graham Richard named him chief in 1999. He is a criminal-justice graduate of IPFW. Lifelong Fort Wayne residents, he and his wife Judy raised two children and have lived in their 4th District home for more than 20 years.
If he is not elected to council, York said he would consider remaining as safety director if asked to do so.
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