The Gary Common Council might be whole again after a Wednesday night caucus — or the city will have to host another caucus to fill another seat.

Marian Ivey and Shanita Starks are the two candidates who filed in time for the caucus scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. in Gary.

The candidates’ deadline to file was 6 p.m. Sunday. Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said he expects the caucus to go “relatively quickly” because only about nine or 10 committee people are eligible to vote.

Ivey is an at-large councilwoman who was first elected to the council in an April 2024 caucus and replaced Ron Brewer Jr., who joined the Lake County Council after Clorius Lay died in February 2024.

If Ivey is elected Wednesday, another caucus will have to be held to fill her at-large seat.

Ivey has been a Fourth District precinct committee member since 2018, she said Monday. She also learned from former councilwomen Tai Adkins and Carolyn Rogers, both of whom served the district.

Adkins is the current Calumet Township trustee and was elected in a January caucus. The late councilwoman Rogers served on the council for 20 years, from 2000 to 2020.

As an at-large member, Ivey is focused on Gary as a whole, but district council members can advocate for their respective areas. She’s attended meetings

“If I’m successful, I can’t wait to let the residents of the Fourth District know all the hard work I’ve done on their behalf,” Ivey said. “I’ve been a part of the Fourth. I am the Fourth, I love the Fourth, I’m in the Fourth, and I’ve been working for the Fourth.”

If she wins the caucus, Ivey believes her experience will help in the new role. She’s built relationships with city staff and attended summits, conferences and trainings that could help.

Starks is running for Fourth District councilperson after an unsuccessful run in the caucus for Calumet Township trustee in January. Starks was eliminated in the first round, receiving one vote.

The local entrepreneur said she wanted to run for the council position because she wants to help stabilize the city and become more structured in the next couple of years.

Starks hasn’t had a political position before, but she’s worked behind the scenes. She wants to help build awareness of local government’s work in the community.

“Making sure the transparency of government spending and information is important so that people can make sound decisions, especially with different things changing on a continuous basis right now,” Starks said.

Financial transparency is a focus for Starks if she wins Wednesday’s caucus. She also wants to focus on project transparency so people can see results in the Fourth District.

“If people feel like they belong to something, they adopt it and care for it differently,” Starks said. “I want more of a focus on neighborhood development and to see the community grow together.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com