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Vop Osili (pronounced “oh-suh-lee”) is the slated Democratic candidate for Indianapolis’ City-County Council District 15.  He grew-up in the Haughville home of his grandparents right here in the heart of the district he’s running to serve. He has said often that he could not have asked for a better place to spend his childhood because his parents, grandparents and neighbors alike impressed upon him the importance of serving others by respecting and working to improve our communities.

In 2010, Vop earned his party’s nomination as a candidate for Indiana Secretary of State and traveled tirelessly to all 92 counties with a plan to reform the office of Secretary of State in order to better utilize its capability to attract and facilitate job growth for Hoosiers.

Vop has made community building his life’s work. As product of Christamore House in Haughville and the Indianapolis Public School system, Vop graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, and from Columbia University with a Masters Degree in Architecture and Urban Design. An architect and founder of an architectural and development practice based in Indianapolis, he began his practice as a developer of urban properties in downtown Indianapolis, designing, financing and building several multi-family and commercial developments in the city. Vop is growing his business by expanding it around the state, and developing projects overseas.

Indiana’s late Gov. Frank O’Bannon appointed Vop as a commissioner to the Indiana Building Services Commission (now a division of the Department of Homeland Security), a position he held for four years. He was further recognized by the Governor with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Business and Entrepreneurship. The US Small Business Administration also recognized him with a “Rising Star” award for his global vision and entrepreneurship.

Vop was appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis to chair one of Indianapolis’ Board of Zoning Appeals, and co-chair its Urban Design Oversight Committee. In addition to this civic work he has served on the boards of several regional and statewide non-profits.

Vop has long been a community leader who believes strongly that the primary role of leadership is to advocate for the fundamental rights and needs of those whose voices are not heard. A Councillor’s duty is to build strong neighborhoods and communities. Vop believes that we strengthen our communities by helping create jobs. Our existing businesses often need assistance in better identifying and accessing the resources they need to grow, prosper, and provide jobs for our local residents, and we need to make it easier for our new businesses to locate in our communities. As a small business owner he will use his years of practical business experience to enhance access to the economic opportunities that are available for the businesses in our communities.

Reduction in crime is another component of making our communities stronger and more attractive. The residents of our neighborhoods must feel safe and secure so that our children grow up with the freedoms and liberties we are promised as Americans. To build a stronger community Vop will be active and vigilant as a Councillor in ensuring that our law enforcement has the necessary funding to keep all of our neighborhoods safe and secure.
As one who cherishes the public school education he received Vop has long been an advocate for making our education system in the City of Indianapolis the best in the country. He knows that to compete in the global economy the education of our children must be the highest of priorities and that we must allocate the necessary resources to make it so.

Vop is married to Una Osili, PhD, a professor of economics at IUPUI and they are the parents of two young children.