Vop Osili
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ifeanyi "Vop" Osili is a Democratic
politician from Indianapolis, Indiana
. He is a member-elect of the Indianapolis City-County Council
from the 15th district, in the southwestern portion of Center Township
.
Osili was born in Lagos, Nigeria to a Nigeria
n father and an American mother. He was 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 mother fled back to the United States; his father didn't follow them for another five years. They settled in his maternal grandparents' home in Haughville.
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.
He grew up as a Republican
, but became a Democrat in the 1990s.
, 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. However, in the November election, Osili was swept under a massive Republican wave that swept through Indiana, taking only 37 percent of the vote.
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. 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. The commission voted unanimously to clear White, accepting his claim that he intended to use his old home as his permanent address. The Democrats asked Rosenburg to review the decision, which he did (in White's absence) on November 23. He is expected to make a ruling in 30 days. If the Democrats ultimately succeed in having White declared ineligible, Osili will become Secretary of State by default--the first Democrat to hold that post since 1994.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He is a member-elect of the Indianapolis City-County Council
Indianapolis City-County Council
The Indianapolis City–County Council is the city legislature of Indianapolis, Indiana and Marion County, known as Unigov. It was formally established in 1970 upon the merger of the city government with the county government. Both the Council and Mayor's office are located within the Indianapolis...
from the 15th district, in the southwestern portion of Center Township
Center Township, Marion County, Indiana
Center Township is one of nine townships in Marion County, Indiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 167,055, making it the most populated township in Marion County...
.
Osili was born in Lagos, Nigeria to a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n father and an American mother. He was 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
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
, he and mother fled back to the United States; his father didn't follow them for another five years. They settled in his maternal grandparents' home in Haughville.
Osili graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelor's degree in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and earned a master's degree in architecture and urban design from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He later served as a missionary to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
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
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
-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
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
of Greater Indianapolis, the United Way
United Way
The United Way of America, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a non-profit organization that works with nearly 1,300 local United Way offices throughout the country in a coalition of charitable organizations to pool efforts in fundraising and support...
of Central Indiana and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
He grew up as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, but became a Democrat in the 1990s.
2010 Secretary of State campaign
In 2010, Osili was the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State of IndianaSecretary of State of Indiana
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Indiana is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's State Constitution of 1816. Since 1851 it has been an elected position. The Secretary of State has authority of several state departments, and is considered to be the...
, pledging to reinvigorate the business services section of the office. He was initially a heavy underdog against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate Charlie White
Charles P. White
-Education:White received a B.A. from Wabash College and a J.D. from Valparaiso University.-Secretary of State:White, a member of the town council of Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb, and a former chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, ran against Democratic architect Vop Osili in an...
. However, White came under fire for claiming his former home in Fishers
Fishers, Indiana
Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships, Hamilton County, Indiana, with a population of 76,794, according to the 2010 census. A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently...
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. However, in the November election, Osili was swept under a massive Republican wave that swept through Indiana, taking only 37 percent of the vote.
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. The Democrats appealed, and on April 7 Marion County
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
judge Louis Rosenberg ordered the Recount Commission to make a ruling on the legality of White's registration. The commission voted unanimously to clear White, accepting his claim that he intended to use his old home as his permanent address. The Democrats asked Rosenburg to review the decision, which he did (in White's absence) on November 23. He is expected to make a ruling in 30 days. If the Democrats ultimately succeed in having White declared ineligible, Osili will become Secretary of State by default--the first Democrat to hold that post since 1994.