2019 Bloomington Primary|Council Candidate District 3: Ron Smith
Outcome: Ron Smith won the Democratic Party primary for District 3 with 522 votes (73.73 percent), compared to 186 votes (26.27 percent) for Jim Blickensdorf. [Full results here]
Ron Smith is running for a four-year term on the Bloomington Common Council representing District 3. He faces Jim Blickensdorf in the May 7, 2019 Democratic Party primary. No Republican candidates filed for this seat in the primary election. The incumbent Democrat, Allison Chopra, is not seeking re-election.
However, on March 27, Blickensdorf announced that he has resigned from the city’s Parking Commission and was discontinuing his council campaign. The announcement came four days after the Bloomington Herald-Times published an article about Blickendorf’s 1998 involvement in the purchase of a Bedford strip club and of fines and court fees related to unpaid parking tickets.
Blickensdorf’s name will still appear on the ballot, because the deadline for removing it was Feb. 11.
District 3 covers portions of Bloomington’s northeast and east sides. (Click here for a map of city districts.)
After retiring from a career with the state’s Division of Aging and the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, Smith now works as a care manager for Area 10 Agency on Aging. He was recently appointed to the city’s Commission on Aging for a term ending Jan. 31, 2020.
The Herald-Times reported that Smith intends to focus on the needs of senior citizens, if elected.
Smith previously ran for the District 3 seat in 2011 and lost to Marty Spechler in the Democratic Party primary.
Smith has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University and a master’s degree in social work from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Smith is married to Lynn Schwartzberg, general manager for One World Catering.
He is serving as his own campaign treasurer and chair.
Links to Additional Information
Campaign website: NA
Email: ronforcitycouncil2019@gmail.com
Twitter: NA
Campaign finance reports (2019 election cycle):
- Statement of organization
- Declaration of candidacy
- Statement of economic interests
- Pre-Primary Report of Receipts and Expenditures
In the News: Ron Smith
Hamilton, Smith, uncontested Democrats look to fall election – Bloomington Herald-Times, May 7, 2019
City Council Newcomers Prevail In Democratic Primary – Indiana Public Media, May 7, 2019
Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce candidate forum (video) – Community Access Television Services (CATS), April 2, 2019
City council candidates discuss parking, the downtown and affordable housing – Bloomington Herald-Times, April 2, 2019
Bloomington races not over, despite candidates’ actions; independent plans mayoral run – Bloomington Herald-Times, March 29, 2019
Blickensdorf drops out of city council race, resigns from parking commissions – Indiana Daily Student, March 27, 2019
Blickensdorf resigns from city council race, parking commission – Bloomington Herald-Times, March 27, 2019
District 3 candidate Ron Smith to advocate for ‘responsible’ development,’ neighborhoods – Indiana Daily Student, March 25, 2019
Big Talk Interview with District 3 Candidate Ron Smith – WFHB, March 21, 2019
Newcomer city council candidates’ ages trend downward – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 25, 2019
First day of filing kicks off 2019 elections – Bloomington Herald-Times, Jan. 8, 2019