Speedway Merchants Host City County Councilors


(posted Feb 14)

Newly elected City County Councilors Robert Lutz, Cherrish Pryor and Janice McHenry addressed the Speedway Merchants Association Feb 13 meeting to explain their various committees roles.

Although District 13 is not in Speedway, Robert Lutz is familiar with Speedway's issues since he once lived in the town and served as police commissioner. Lutz still practices law in Speedway, noting that his office is west of the Nazarene Church. From these encounters in Speedway, Lutz is well aware of the importance for Speedway to remain as an independent town. Lutz serves on the rules and policy committee, economic development committee, and municipal corporation.

He said government serves the public best when it gets out of the way to allow people to use their creative minds.

Pryor represents District 7 that includes parts of Speedway and the Lafayette Square Area. Besides serving on the council, Pryor also works in the Marion County Auditor's real estate division. Since Pryor serves on the public works committee, she indicated much of her time is devoted to constituent phone calls about trash, dead animals,.abandon cars and houses.

Pryor said she has always had a passion for causes and helped organized a minority newspaper while attending IU.

As far as the Lafayette Square Area, she explained that it is making good progress with the recent opening of Wal-Mart Super Center and the soon to open Garden Ridge. She said she has been in touch with the mall tenets and they are excited about the mall's new ownership and future plans. The mall area has an economic trickle that feeds into Wayne Township, so it is important for LSA to prosper.

When Speedway is mentioned to Janice McHenry, it reminds her of one her first jobs as a lifeguard at International Village that is in her Council District 6 area. McHenry also serves on the public works committee. She views government's biggest weakness as its reactionary nature to issues instead of working on proactive means. She also serves on the Parks and Recreation Committee and Metropolitan Development Committee that is concerned with zoning policy.