Editor’s note: Candidate responses were sent via email and were paraphrased and edited for brevity, clarity and style.
This May, Bloomington residents will have the opportunity to choose who they want to serve them for the next four years on the city council. The city council serves as the legislative body of the city and is composed of nine people, with six districts and three at-large seats.
Over a week after the filing deadline, the slate of primary candidates has been finalized.
After a redistricting process that put four councilmembers in the same district as another councilmember, this election has the potential to shake up who serves on the council. Councilmember Jim Sims and Susan Sandberg have decided not to run for reelection, with Sandberg deciding to run for mayor instead.
Four of Six Districts Contested
Tap or click on the district names to see the candidates.
Source: Various
The rest of the current councilmembers are running for reelection, including Stephen Volan, who has opted to run for an at-large seat rather than run against fellow councilmember Dave Rollo. Every district has a challenger except for IU student David Wolfe Bender in District 6 and Dave Rollo in District 4.
The primary election is on May 2, 2023. You can prepare by finding your polling location in your voter portal.
District 1
This district covers an area south of Third Street on the west side of town.
Tap or click on the candidate's photo to jump to their section
Isabel Piedmont-Smith (D) – Incumbent
Isabel Piedmont-Smith is currently serving her third term, but she said she continues to welcome insights into how to improve council processes and better serve the public, particularly historically underrepresented residents. She said she is energized and committed to continue serving, and she hopes to serve her hometown for another four-year term.
Why she’s running:
Piedmont-Smith is running for reelection to the Bloomington city council because she is committed to pursuing the Climate Action Plan, which is the city’s plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, increasing transparency in city government and strengthening the local social safety net.
Priorities:
» Climate change
» Strengthen social safety net
» Fiscal sustainability
Contact:
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Joe Lee (D)
Joe Lee is an artist, cartoonist, author and illustrator. He has contributed illustrations and writing to several periodicals and is currently the editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald-Times, staff illustrator for Our Brown County Magazine and a frequent contributor to Bloom Magazine. Lee has also been a volunteer and board member of the Monroe County Humane Association and a co-creator of the Youth Mural Project, which is a program that enables disenfranchised youth to express their creativity. He is also a six-year "graveyard shift" volunteer for the InterFaith Emergency Winter Shelter as a member of the First Christian Church.
He is also a Friends of the Library board member, an active instructor and volunteer with the Bloomington Area Arts Council, a Lotus Festival volunteer and performer, a longtime reading volunteer at Templeton Elementary and a five-year employee with a local governmental office that worked directly with struggling families and individuals of all races, genders and backgrounds. He said his proudest and most fulfilling service is his role as a "foster-to-adopt" parent.
Why he’s running:
Lee is running because of the necessity of increasing affordable housing and fixing an aging infrastructure that Lee believes was not built to support the city’s construction boom. He also wants to pursue a committed response to climate change and promote fairness and equity. He said he believes that the public and governmental conversation surrounding these issues have degenerated into ideological bashing with one side trying to force "one-size-fits-all" solutions.
“We are an intelligent, concerned and creative city that wants to be heard, to be a real part of Bloomington's solutions,” Lee said.
Priorities:
» Affordable housing
» Fix aging and inadequate infrastructure
» Climate change
» Fairness and equity
Contact:
District 2
This district covers the northwest portion of the city, starting around Third Street and reaching all the way to Kinser Pike.
Both candidates running in this district are current councilmembers due to changes in district lines following the 2020 redistricting.
Sue Sgambelluri (D) – Incumbent
Sue Sgambelluri was elected to Council on Nov. 5, 2019, has worked at IU since 1992 and has called Bloomington home since 1994. She has served in various leadership and advisory roles in organizations including Habitat for Humanity, South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities, the Community Development Block Grants Citizens Advisory Committee and the Jack Hopkins Social Service Funding Committee.
Along with other Bloomington leaders, Sgambelluri has worked directly on economic development through projects like the Trades District, Switchyard Park and repurposing the old hospital site for affordable housing development.
Besides her service on the council, Sgambelluri works as the Director of Development for the College of Arts and Sciences at IU. Her role involves working with both individuals and organizations to secure private fundraising support for IU students, faculty and programs.
Why she’s running:
Sgambelluri said she wants to ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of the community. She plans to develop the Trades District, build new affordable housing, expand the Convention Center, launch the new Hopewell Neighborhood on the old hospital site, respond to issues of homelessness and opioid abuse and strengthen neighborhoods.
“We need to make data-informed decisions that support our social, economic and environmental wellbeing, and that help everyone benefit from our success,” she said.
Priorities:
» Encourage economic growth
» Strengthen social services network
» Enhance neighborhood quality of life
» Promote transparency, accountability and efficiency
Contact:
(812) 345-3215
Kate Rosenbarger (D) - Incumbent
Kate spent most of her career with NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit focused on creating affordable housing and helping create opportunities for people to improve their lives. There, she worked with nonprofits in 240 communities across the country to measure the impact of programs in neighborhoods they serve. This included helping measure what people were proud of, how safe they felt in their community, what needed improvement and how connected people felt to their neighbors. Before that, Kate worked for the AFL-CIO in Colorado as Communications Director and has worked on nine political campaigns in fundraising and volunteer engagement. Kate said she loves trail running, growing her own food and spending time in the sun with her Russell Terrier, Gary.
Why she’s running:
Kate said she is running because she sees a lot of opportunity to help Bloomington do better.
“While so many of us are doing well, there are still many who are struggling,” she said. “By making data-driven decisions and centering equity and justice, we can make things better for the next generation.”
Priorities:
» Climate change
» Safe and attainable housing
» Sustainable transportation
» Green, living wage jobs
» Equity
Contact:
kateforbloomington.wordpress.com
District 3
This district covers the east side of the city north of Third Street, including Lake Griffy and IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
Ron Smith (D) - Incumbent
A long-time resident of Bloomington, Ron Smith was first elected 2020 and has served on the Plan Commission, Environmental Sustainability Commission, Monroe County Economic Development, Jack Hopkins Fund and as Chair of the Sidewalk Committee and the Community Development Block Grant Committee.
Since he has been on city council, Smith said he has supported a variety of local social services agencies that work to help unhoused people find housing and assistive services. He has also voted to fund food pantry agencies such as Hoosier Hills Food Bank, the Community Kitchen and Pantry 279.
Other aspects of Smith’s record include support for increasing salaries for Bloomington Police Officers and City AFSCME members, opposition to involuntary annexation, higher fees on city services and the purchasing of the Showers building as a new police department.
With a Master’s degree in Social Services from IU and work experience in multiple state services, Smith said he brings over 30 years of experience working and advocating for people with disabilities, children in crisis, people in poverty and older generations. He said he has seen how effective programs can change people’s lives.
Smith is also a grandfather of two young boys, and he enjoys playing guitar, taking hikes at Griffy Lake and is a devoted Chicago Cubs fan.
Why he’s running:
Ron said he is looking forward to continuing his efforts to improve the quality of life in Bloomington and hold down the city’s tax burden, especially those on fixed incomes.
Priorities:
» Regulate multifamily housing development
» Keep taxes low
» Solve conditions in Monroe County Jail
» Oppose increase to trash pickup fees
» Oppose annexation
» Provide free public transit for seniors and people with disabilities
Contact:
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Hopi Stosberg (D)
Originally from Vermont, Hopi Stosberg moved to Richmond, IN to attend Earlham College, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and later went on to earn a master's degree in teaching. She and her family moved to Bloomington in December 2013, where her background as a secondary math teacher and her kindergarten-aged daughter led her to get involved at University Elementary. There, Stosberg served in leadership positions in the Parent-Teacher Organization for seven years, including president, vice president and the Chair of Fall Campaign and Learning Festival. She has also served on various committees within Monroe County Consolidated School Corporation and has volunteered in the classroom and youth sports.
Her community involvement also includes volunteering with the Interfaith Winter Homeless Shelter and leading adult justice discussions, and she currently co-chairs a group that helps local refugee families with housing, employment and education. Hopi said her volunteer experience has deepened her understanding of the homeless community, the difficulty of finding affordable housing in Bloomington, finding social and government support systems and navigating Bloomington without a car.
Why she’s running:
“I decided to run for City Council because my background in education, executive level volunteering and firsthand service experiences combine to give me a diverse picture of Bloomington's strengths and weaknesses and will bring a fresh perspective to Council business,” Stosberg said.
She said she is most passionate about family success, including topics like housing, accessibility to city services, safety, education and childcare.
Priorities:
» Affordable housing
» Accessible city services
» Safety
» Education
» Childcare
Contact:
Conner Wright (D)
Conner Wright is an undergraduate at IU Bloomington pursuing a dual-degree in business and political science. He said he can use his experiences as a renter, a daily commuter by bicycle and foot and avid hiker and camper to help address Bloomington's biggest issues. Wright cited the city’s growing housing affordability crisis, a lack of public transportation infrastructure, a lack of cyclist and pedestrian protections and climate change as some of the city’s biggest issues.
“Bloomington is home to an amazing culture, university and parks and the city needs to do everything they can to ensure Bloomington retains those attributes and utilizes them to their full potential,” Wright said.
Why he’s running:
“I’m running for Bloomington City Council District III because I believe Bloomington needs diverse perspectives at the table to help solve pressing issues,” he said.
Priorities:
» Affordable housing
» Public transportation
» Cyclist and pedestrian protections
» Climate change
Contact:
Brett Heinisch (R)
Brett Heinisch grew up in Syracuse, Indiana and moved to Bloomington for college at IU. He said his priorities include addressing crime, especially on campus, reducing drug abuse and making Bloomington a great place to live and work.
He went to school from 2013 to 2016 for his bachelor’s in Political Science and received his master’s in Public Affairs at the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs from 2017 to 2019. He has lived here since graduating from O'Neill and currently works at Storage Express. Heinisch lists several internships, including working for then-congressmen Todd Young and Luke Messer and current congressman Larry Buchson, as well as a D.C. internship for Freedomworks. He also lists volunteer and work experience on for campaigns, including State Rep. Curt Nisly, State Rep. Dave Hall, Senators Mike Braun and Todd Young and New England Citizens for Right to Work.
Why he’s running:
“My main goal in this election is to give people a choice in November and be a voice and ear for my constituents,” Heinisch said.
Priorities:
» Reduce crime
» Reduce drug abuse
District 4
This district covers the middle and eastern part of the city south of Third Street, including College Mall.
Rollo did not respond to an IDS request for information.
Rollo was elected to the council in 2003 and has served three terms as president. Rollo is a partner at Stranger’s Hill Organics, the oldest continually certified organic farm in Indiana, and is passionate about sustainability and biodiversity.
Contact:
District 5
This district covers the south side of the city and part of the east side, including Perry Township.
Shruti Rana (D)
Shruti Rana is a mother, lawyer, community leader and professor. At IU, she works as senior assistant dean and is also a faculty member specializing in international law and human rights. Prior to moving to Bloomington, Rana taught at the University of Maryland and University of California, worked at the United Nations in the Division for the Advancement of Women and practiced law in Washington, DC, North Carolina and California. She received her juris doctorate from Columbia University, a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley.
Rana has previously served as the Chair of the Monroe County Election Board and is a member of the City of Bloomington Board of Public Safety and the Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women. She is also a board member for the nonprofits All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center and Exodus Refugee Immigration, a founding member and previous co-chair of the Indiana Chapter of National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Vice President of Monroe County NOW and Vice Chair for the Monroe County Democratic Party.
In 2020, she was elected as an Indiana Delegate, District IN-09 to the Democratic National Convention and also served as Social Media Chair for the Indiana Chapter of South Asians for Biden. In 2021, she was selected for Hoosier Women Forward, a leadership development program for Democratic women in Indiana. She said she has worked on a number of initiatives to strengthen childcare availability, family leave, education, voter protection, election security, reproductive justice and racial and gender equality in Bloomington and beyond. Most recently, Rana references her role in leading the opposition to Senate Bill 1, Indiana’s abortion ban, and testifying against it in the Senate chamber.
Why she’s running:
Rana is running for city council to promote inclusion and expansion of access to childcare and healthcare. She said she is passionate about building diverse and supportive communities, and that her advocacy has shown her how much potential the city has to strengthen community resources.
“I have learned how, on a city level, we can take concrete steps to protect our rights in a state that is trying to take them away,” Rana said. “Bloomington can be a model for protecting and expanding the rights and resources that are crucial to building a strong and inclusive community.”
Priorities:
» Strengthen community resources
» Address gaps from pandemic
» Provide universal pre-K
» Expand childcare, maternal care and healthcare
Jenny Stevens (D) did not respond to an IDS request for information
Stevens is a grant accountant for the Department of Physics at IU, according to an IU website.
Matt Caldie was previously running but withdrew from the race. In a statement sent to the IDS, Caldie expressed support for Shruti Rana and said he was considering party-building work and a run for office in the future.
District 6
This district covers most of IU’s campus, including all dorms except Foster. The district also covers downtown areas near Kirkwood.
David Wolfe Bender (D)
David Wolfe Bender is a third-year student at Indiana University studying economics, political science and journalism. As the Director of City Relations for IU Student Government, he frequently speaks at city council meetings. His comments have covered topics such as antisemitism, city equity, tax abatements, zoning codes and traffic issues. After he graduates next year, Bender plans to stay in Bloomington for graduate school.
Bender called his campaign “future-focused” and “people-centered,” describing priorities such as affordable housing, making Kirkwood Ave. a permanent space for pedestrians by closing it to cars, promoting economic development and ensuring public safety.
Why he’s running
Bender said students make up nearly half of Bloomington’s population, and yet students have not been represented by an undergraduate student on the city council.
“We're running to change that,” Bender said. “It's time students in our city get a voice.”
Priorities:
» Expand affordable housing
» Permanently close Kirkwood to cars
» Increase economic development
» Increase public safety
Contact:
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At-Large
Running “at-large” means the candidates are running to represent the city as a whole, not just a certain district. All Bloomington voters can choose between these candidates.
Incumbents
Stephen Volan (D) did not respond to an IDS request for information.
Volan has served on the council representing District 6 for two decades. According to his website, Volan has been involved with community radio state WFHB since 1992 and currently teaches a class at IU. Volan graduated with a degree in general studies from IU in 2007 and received his master’s in geography in 2019.
Contact:
Matt Flaherty (D) moved to Bloomington for law school in 2007 and said he has called it home ever since. In addition to his Juris Doctorate, Flaherty holds master's degrees in public affairs and environmental science from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and works in clean energy policy for the nonprofit organization Clean Energy Works.
He said his work focuses on advancing inclusive financing solutions so that everyone can benefit from a clean energy transition. Prior to Clean Energy Works, Flaherty worked for the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, where he provided technical assistance to local governments on climate action across the state. Flaherty said he is a passionate runner, and enjoys exploring the area's many parks, forests and trails with his wife and their dog Eiger.
Why he’s running:
Flaherty said he is seeking reelection in order to continue prioritizing equitable and inclusive transportation and housing policies; local leadership on climate change, including addressing its causes while building resilience to its impacts; and improvements to the council's work processes, including inclusive public engagement and a more collaborative and productive working relationships with the mayor and county government.
Priorities:
» Address climate change and resilience
» Focus on inclusive housing and transportation policies
» Increase public engagement
» Develop productive relationships with mayor and county
Contact:
Matt Flaherty, Bloomington City Council
Entrants
Jonas Schrodt (D) is a small business owner and lifelong Bloomington resident. He went to Bloomington High School North and now works as the winemaker at his family's winery. He said he also teaches children’s martial arts and performs and works at The Comedy Attic. Schrodt said he is encouraged by the future and believes Bloomington can be an inclusive, environmentally-minded, socially conscious, progressive city that residents and future generations can be proud of.
Why he’s running:
Schrodt said he decided to run for city council to help build a more inclusive community.
He believes that youth need more social engagement, especially after the past few years. He mentioned the demolition of Rhino’s Youth Center in 2019 as an example of the lack of spaces for youth and expressed support for a new youth center. Particularly, a youth center could provide a city wide LGBTQIA+ support group, Schrodt said.
“As a gay man myself, I know firsthand the challenges faced by LBTQIA+ youth,” Schrodt said. “The same challenges I faced in my youth have been magnified with renewed attacks against trans kids.”
Schrodt said he believes the city must provide community-wide support, starting by providing them with a safe space.
Priorities:
» Expand public transit
» Provide better bike paths and pedestrian routes
» Increase funding for addiction recovery
» Expand affordable housing
Contact:
Dr. Lois Sabo-Skelton (D) served on the Monroe County Consolidated School Corporation School Board from 2005 to 2019, as well as various boards and commissions, including the Historic Preservation Commission. She is also a recipient of the Green Acres Neighborhood Association HAND Neighbor of the Year award in 2004.
She holds a bachelor’s of music, master’s of music and doctor of music education from the Jacobs School of Music, belongs to Local 3 Musicians Union and currently teaches music courses at Ivy Tech Community College. Sabo-Skelton listed research activities such as humanitarian trips with Judy O’Bannon to Serbia and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps with Holocaust survivor Eva Kor. Her political activities include memberships in the League of Women’s Voters, Reverse Citizens United and the Democratic Women’s Caucus of Bloomington, of which she is a founding member.
Priorities
» Increase diversity, equity and inclusion
» Address poverty and homelessness
» Address food shortages
» Increase personal safety
Contact:
121 N. Overhill Dr., Bloomington, Indiana 47408
812-339-9678
Isak Asare (D) is an IU faculty member and serves as co-director for the Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program and the executive director of the IU Cybersecurity Clinic. He is also a fellow at the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. He describes his work as being at the intersection of emerging technologies and policy. He said he has advised local and national governments on the opportunities and challenges from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Asare co-authored the first city-led AI strategy in the United States, co-authored Mexico's National AI Strategy, co-founded the UK cross-governmental community of practice on AI and worked on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development playbook on information and communications technology procurement.
Asare graduated from IU and then attended the University of Oxford and University College London. He has lived in 10 countries and speaks 5 languages.
Why he’s running:
Asare is running because he loves Bloomington. He said Bloomington has been consistently ranked as one of the best cities in Indiana, a top college town and has been recognized for climate action and having a good environment for startups and businesses.
“But I think we can do better, and I want to be a part of the solution,” Asare said. “I want to help make Bloomington more livable, safe and resilient.”
Priorities:
» Provide affordable and diverse housing
» Increase sustainability
» Expand public transit
» Provide affordable childcare
» Develop productive relationships with state, county and IU
Ryne Shadday (D) did not respond to an IDS request for information.
Shadday is an associate broker at Trueblood Real Estate. He also serves on the Human Rights Commission, the Traffic Commission and is secretary of the board of directors for the IU LGBTQ Alumni Association.
Andy Ruff (D) did not respond to an IDS request for information
Ruff has been on the city council before, serving five terms before losing his seat in the 2019 primary election. In 2020, he ran for Congress against Trey Hollingsworth in District 9, but lost. Ruff currently serves as an academic advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences at IU.
EDITOR'S NOTE: David Wolfe Bender was formerly employed by thr Indiana Daily Student.
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