A caucus to elect the next member of the Gary Common Council has been scheduled for this month.

The Fourth District seat is up for grabs after former President Tai Adkins resigned following the council’s Jan. 21 meeting. Adkins won the caucus for Calumet Township trustee on Jan. 16.

Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said the caucus is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. in Gary. If an elected official were voted in as councilperson, another caucus would have to be held.

The party planned to send notices on Tuesday, Wieser told the Post-Tribune.

He expects the caucus to go “relatively quickly” because only about nine or 10 committee people are eligible to vote. Wieser expects to see about two or three candidates.

“It’s limited geographically because it’s just the district,” Wieser said. “It can’t be any resident. It’s not like an at-large position or township trustee … This one is just the precincts and the committeemen in the Fourth District.”

The Gary council will have to elect another president following Adkins’ resignation. The next council meeting will be Feb. 11, according to the legislative body’s Facebook page.

Council members unanimously elected Adkins as president at the first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 7.

“It means something that I have unanimous support of my leadership,” Adkins told the council. “I was very nervous last year, and I hope that I have made you all proud for what I’ve attempted to do while leading our efforts.”

Adkins was elected as Calumet Township trustee after two voting rounds on Jan. 16. She won with 25 votes, needing 24 to win.

In a statement following her win, Adkins said she was grateful for the Gary Democratic Precinct Organization’s support and the decision to select her.

“As I step into this position, my first priority is to ensure that we continue delivering vital services to those who rely on us,” she said.

“It’s essential that we maintain stability and reliability for our residents. In addition, I’m eager to get to know the inner workings of the township, so that I can improve our internal process and bring fresh, innovative solutions to the table.”

A caucus for Calumet Township trustee had to be held after ex-Trustee Kim Robinson resigned from the position, as part of a deal when she pleaded guilty on Dec. 23 to one count of wire fraud in Hammond’s U.S. District Court.

If the plea deal is accepted, Robinson will serve one year of probation and have to repay $11,200, plus an $8,700 fine, according to Post-Tribune archives.

Robinson’s sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 9, according to online court records. She is the third consecutive Calumet Township trustee to face federal charges.

While Robinson was trustee, the township paid Adkins’ company, ARC Group Contractors, $38,400, according to a nonemployee compensation form sent to the Post-Tribune.

The company was hired to support and implement park initiatives, which former Gary Deputy Mayor Trent McCain alleges Adkins needed to get approval from the parks department to do. McCain said Adkins never received approval.

In an email to the Post-Tribune, Adkins said the company was not hired for a “park project” and was instead hired to identify a possible recreation project as well as various avenues and stakeholders.

mwilkins@chicagotribune .com