Indy council member switches parties

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Jose Evans ran for mayor of Indianapolis as a Democrat in 2011. He is now joining the Republican Party.

Evans is a member of the City-County Council who is in his second term. His party switch will reduce the Democratic majority on the council from 16-13 to the narrowest of margins at 15-14. He appeared with local and state GOP leaders to make the announcement Tuesday morning at the City Market.

"I've become frustrated with political games being played by the Democratic Party," said Evans, "the lack of ideas, the infighting."

Evans represents a district in Pike Township and says that he felt no need to step down before changing parties because he had significant GOP support in the last election.  Marion County Democratic Chairman Joel Miller says he learned of the party switch through media reports.

"I helped Jose get elected as a Democrat twice now," said Miller. "I look forward to helping a Democrat get elected in his seat."

Evans is scheduled to meet with GOP National Chairman Reince Priebus who is coming to Indianapolis to meet with state GOP leaders.