Alex Dalton

The Valparaiso City Council voted 5-2 on Aug. 11 to force passage of an ordinance that will reshape the city's 10-member Advisory Human Relations Council by replacing six of the mayor's appointees with city council picks.

The body currently advises the mayor on "the status of human relations in the city," among other related duties, but Democrats on the city council want the AHRC to play a larger and more public-facing role in the city.

Mayor Jon Costas, a Republican, has been steadfast in his opposition to the changes. He declined to sign the ordinance after it was initially passed on July 28, allowing a 10-day deadline to elapse in a maneuver known as a "pocket veto."

With five votes in favor, the council's democrats had the two-thirds majority necessary to override Costa

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