Indianapolis council member Jason Holliday to resign District 20 seat

Indianapolis City-County Council member Jason Holliday is resigning his post representing the southwest part of Marion County, the second departure from the council in just over a month. 

Holliday — one of five Republican members of the council — is departing his District 20 seat to serve as trustee for Decatur Township, replacing outgoing trustee Steve Rink. Rink plans to retire from the elected position, which he has held for 30 years, due to health reasons. 

Holliday, a lifelong resident of southwestern Decatur Township, said the change gives him the opportunity to serve more specifically the area in which he lives.

He has served on the Decatur Township Board and as the township assessor. He was first elected to the council in 2011. 

A caucus of 18 Republican precinct committee people in District 20 must now choose a successor for Holliday, who was in his third term. Eleven committee people are in Decatur Township, and seven are in Perry Township, according to the Marion County Republican Party. 

The caucus is set for Aug. 14 at the Decatur Township government center.

Indianapolis Democrats in November gained ground on the council, with four Republican incumbents falling to their Democratic challengers and four Democratic newcomers winning seats. 

The victories propelled Democrats toward gaining six seats overall and a 20-5 majority. All 25 council seats were up for grabs.

Holliday said his resignation takes effect Aug. 9. Rink's last day as trustee is Aug. 12. 

The vacancy is the second one this year from the newly elected council. Former council member Blake Johnson vacated his District 12 seat to replace Rep. Dan Forestal in the state legislature. Former city employee Jason Larrison won that council seat in a contentious caucus of Democratic precinct committee people in that east side district. 

Forestal resigned after saying he needed time to focus on his mental health. He faces felony charges of resisting law enforcement following a June 11 incident at Eskenazi Hospital. 

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Township trustees are governing positions that oversee a number of local responsibilities, including creating an annual budget for the township board and overseeing fire and ambulance services.

"I hope that Jason will continue what we've done," Rink said of his hopes for Holliday as a new trustee. "And even progress even more."

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