2019 Bloomington General |At-Large Council Candidate: Matt Flaherty
Matt Flaherty is running in the general election for one of three at-large councilmember seats on the Bloomington Common Council, with two other candidates, incumbents Susan Sandberg and Jim Sims.
Because the three are not opposed by any other candidates on the ballot or as write-ins, no election will be held for the at-large seats on Nov. 5 and they’ll win by default.
No Republicans appeared on the primary ballot, and the party did not “caucus in” any candidates for the general election. No independent or write-in candidates filed to be a candidate for city council’s at-large seats.
The top three at-large vote-getters in the Democratic Party primary were Susan Sandberg with 2,993 votes (21.54 percent), Jim Sims with 2,728 votes (19.63 percent) and Matt Flaherty with 2,564 votes (18.45 percent). [Full results here] Other candidates for at-large seats in the May 7, 2019 Democratic Party primary were Vauhxx Booker, Jean Capler, and incumbent Andy Ruff.
Flaherty is a graduate student at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), studying energy and climate issues. He holds a law degree from IU and previously practiced patent law with Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago.
He operates Run Flaherty Coaching, a personal coaching business for runners.
Flaherty and Kate Rosenbarger were co-chairs of Friends of the IU Cross Country Course. The group tried to save the course from development of the new Regional Academic Health Center, which is being constructed on the same site. Rosenbarger is the Democratic Party candidate for council in District 1, running unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election. They held a joint campaign kick-off event in February.
Flaherty is married to Beth Rosenbarger, planning services manager for the City of Bloomington. Beth and Kate Rosenbarger are sisters.
Flaherty currently serves on the City of Bloomington’s Commission on Sustainability, a council appointment for a term ending Jan. 31, 2020. He is vice president of the Energy Leaders Student Association, a SPEA group focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental impacts of the energy system. He is also a contributor to the Limestone Post, a local online magazine.
He told the Indiana Daily Student that he’s interested in approaching issues like affordable housing through the lens of sustainability, and that he could help bridge the gap between the city and the university.
Flaherty is serving as his own campaign treasurer and chair.
Links to Additional Information
Campaign website: flahertyforbloomington.com
Email: MattAFlaherty@gmail.com
Twitter: @MattAFlaherty
Campaign finance reports (2019 election cycle):
- Statement of organization
- Declaration of candidacy
- Statement of economic interests
- Statement of economic interests-2
- Pre-Primary Report of Receipts and Expenditures
In the News: Matt Flaherty
Contested Bloomington elections set for fall: None citywide, two of six council districts – B Square Beacon, July 3, 2019
Filing deadline passes with no independent candidates for Bloomington mayor on the ballot B Square Beacon, July 1, 2019
Sandberg, Sims, Flaherty earn Democratic at-large city council nominations; Ruff out
– Bloomington Herald-Times, May 7, 2019
City Council Newcomers Prevail In Democratic Primary – Indiana Public Media, May 7, 2019
City council at-large candidates discuss affordable housing, parking – Bloomington Herald-Times, May 3, 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
At-large city council candidates talk climate, development, equality at forum – Indiana Daily Student, March 26, 2019
Newcomer city council candidates’ ages trend downward – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 25, 2019
Two IU students to run for Bloomington City Council – Indiana Daily Student, Feb. 4, 2019
Flaherty enters council race for citywide representation – Bloomington Herald-Times, Jan. 8, 2019