2019 Bloomington Primary|Council Candidate District 4: Miah Michaelsen
Outcome: Dave Rollo won the Democratic Party primary for District 4 with 1,079 votes (65.20 percent), compared to 576 votes (34.80 percent) for Miah Michaelsen. [Full results here]
Miah Michaelsen is running for a four-year term on the Bloomington Common Council representing District 4. She faces incumbent Dave Rollo in the May 7, 2019 Democratic Party primary. No Republicans will appear on the primary ballot in this district.
District 4 covers parts of east and southeast Bloomington. (Click here for a map of city districts.)
Michaelsen is deputy director of the Indiana Arts Commission, a position she’s held since 2015. Her current volunteer work in Bloomington includes serving on advisory boards for WFIU Public Radio and the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center. She is also a member of the local Democratic Women’s Caucus, a political action committee.
On her campaign website, Michaelsen lists her priorities as 1) safeguarding, enhancing and celebrating what is special about Bloomington; 2) supporting economic and urban mobility; and 3) practicing engagement and transparency. She lists several action items in each of those categories.
From 2007 to 2015 she served as the City of Bloomington’s assistant economic development director for the arts, in the administration of mayor Mark Kruzan. In that role, she managed the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD), one of Indiana’s official cultural districts. She wrote BEAD’s first strategic plan in 2008.
Michaelsen came to Bloomington in 2004 and served as executive director of the Bloomington Area Arts Council from 2004 to 2007.
Previous jobs include serving five years as executive director of the Kentuck Association in Northport, Alabama and 18 months as executive director of the Children’s Hands-On Museum in Tuscaloosa.
A native of Arkansas, Michaelsen earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College, a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. She is married to Jonathan Michaelsen, a professor at Indiana University’s Department of Theater, Drama and Contemporary Dance who is also her campaign treasurer. They have two sons, Brendan and Wyeth.
Miah Michaelsen is serving as her own campaign chair.
Links to Additional Information
Email: hello@miahforbloomington.com
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: Miah Michaelsen
Rosenbarger, Sgambelluri upend Sturbaum, Granger; Rollo, Piedmont-Smith win
– Bloomington Herald-Times, May 7, 2019
City Council Newcomers Prevail In Democratic Primary – Indiana Public Media, May 7, 2019
District 4 candidates talk affordable housing, business development and other priorities – Bloomington Herald-Times, May 1, 2019
Council candidates say 2016 election, demographic representation made them run – Indiana Daily Student, April 7, 2019
Council candidates discuss Fourth Street parking garage, housing development – Indiana Daily Student, April 2, 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
Big Talk Interview with District 4 Candidate Miah Michaelsen – WFHB, Feb. 28, 2019
Former city arts director Miah Michaelsen runs for Bloomington city council – Indiana Daily Student, Feb. 26, 2019
Newcomer city council candidates’ ages trend downward – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 25, 2019
Bill could help fund development in designated arts, culture districts – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 14, 2019
Senate Bill 255 Could Be Cultural Boost – Nuvo, Feb. 6, 2019
Michaelsen vying for a return to local government – Bloomington Herald-Times, Jan. 30, 2019
Miah Michaelsen named deputy director of Indiana Arts Commission – Bloomington Herald-Times, Sept. 9, 2015