Vop Osili

Osili was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and an American mother. He was said to be very talkative as a toddler, which led his parents to nickname him "Vop"—short for "Voice of the People." The nickname stuck. In the midst of the Nigerian Civil War, he and his mother fled to the United States; his father didn't follow them for another five years.[1] They settled in his maternal grandparents' home in Haughville.[2]

He grew up as a Republican but became a Democrat in the 1990s.[3]

Osili graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelor's degree in architecture, and earned a master's degree in architecture and urban design from Columbia University. He later served as a missionary to Haiti and other developing countries. He is a founding partner of A2SO4, an Indianapolis-based architectural design company that was one of the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified firms in the nation. He was a member of the Indiana Fire and Building Services Commission from 2001 to 2005, and chairman of the Indianapolis Board of Zoning Appeals from 2005 to 2008. At various times, he served as a member of the boards of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, the United Way of Central Indiana and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.[4]

In 2010, Osili was the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State of Indiana, pledging to reinvigorate the business services section of the office. He was initially a heavy underdog against Republican candidate Charlie White. However, White came under fire for claiming his former home in Fishers as his official residence and continuing to serve on the Fishers town council even after moving out of town, and for voting in his old precinct in the Republican primary. Polls initially showed Osili gaining ground on White in the Indianapolis area as a result of the controversy.[3] However, on election day, Osili took only 37 percent of the vote amid the massive Republican wave that swept through Indiana.

The Democrats subsequently filed suit to overturn White's victory, claiming that since Secretary of State candidates must be registered voters, they must be registered legally and therefore White was ineligible to run. However, the state Recount Commission dismissed the Democrats' claim.[5] The Democrats appealed, and on April 7 Marion County judge Louis Rosenberg ordered the Recount Commission to make a ruling on the legality of White's registration.[6] The commission voted unanimously to clear White, accepting his claim that he intended to use his old home as his permanent address.[7] The Democrats asked Rosenburg to review the decision, which he did (in White's absence) on November 23. He was expected to make a ruling in 30 days.[8]

In 2011, Osili won the race in City-County Council District 15 against Republican A. J. Feeney-Ruiz and Libertarian Zachary Capehart.[15]. He received 80% of the vote.

In 2015, the council districts were redrawn, eliminating four at-large seats, and shifting Osili to District 11.[16] Osili won the 2015 election for District 11 against Republican Remington O'Guin with 86% of the vote.[17]

In February 2018, City-County Council President Stephen Clay stepped down and endorsed Osili to succeed him. Osili was elected president unanimously.[18]