2019 Bloomington General | District 6 Council Candidate: Steve Volan
Steve Volan is seeking re-election to a four-year term on the Bloomington Common Council representing District 6. He is unopposed in the general election, so no election for District 6 will be held on Nov. 5 and Volan will win the race by default.
Volan ran unopposed in the District 6 Democratic Party primary and won with 176 votes. [Full results here] No Republican candidate contested the primary and the party did not “caucus-in” a candidate. No independent or write-in candidates filed paperwork to be a candidate.
District 6 covers most of Bloomington’s downtown area, and a dogleg along Atwater. (Click here for a map of city districts.)
This will be Volan’s fifth term on council. He was first elected in 2003 and has held various council leadership roles over the years. He is now the council’s parliamentarian.
During his tenure he has served on numerous city advisory groups, and is currently a member of the Parking Commission, which he helped create, and the Common Council Land Use Committee.
In a Herald-Times article published earlier this year, Volan noted that the majority of residents in District 6 are Indiana University students, but that basic issues – landlord/tenant relations, parking, trash, quality of life – concern everyone. He also cited the need to continue work on parking and public transit issues.
Volan has lived in Bloomington since the mid-1980s. In 1994, he was a founding board member of the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival and has been an emcee for the annual event. In 1995 he founded BlueMarble, an Internet service provider that he sold eventually to Smithville Fiber.
From 2002 to 2009 Volan owned The Cinemat, a downtown Bloomington video store and performance venue. He is also a long-time volunteer at WFHB, and has hosted the “Siren Songs” program on that station. He posts occasionally on his Councilmanic blog, and is known for having worn a chicken suit to council.
Volan grew up in northwest Indiana and earned an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. He recently completed a master’s degree in geography at IU and plans to publish his master’s thesis – “Gownsburg: The Campus As a Municipal Phenomenon” – as a book.
Volan is serving as his campaign’s treasurer and chair.
Links to Additional Information
Campaign website: NA (Personal website)
Email: vote@volan.org
Campaign finance reports (2019 election cycle):
- Statement of organization
- Declaration of candidacy
- Statement of economic interests
- Report of Receipts and Expenditures
In the News: Steve Volan
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
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
Steve Volan runs unopposed for fifth city council term in District 6 – Indiana Daily Student, April 21, 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
Newcomer city council candidates’ ages trend downward – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 25, 2019
Volan bases city council bid on understanding students’ role in city – Bloomington Herald-Times, Feb. 6, 2019
“Gownsburg: The Campus As a Municipal Phenomenon” (YouTube video of Steve Volan’s master’s thesis colloquium talk) – Jan. 25, 2019
4th St. Garage Debate Part Of City’s Future Transportation Plan – Indiana Public Media, Dec. 12, 2018
IU, Bloomington relations could strengthen with new student position – Indiana Daily Student, Aug. 16, 2018
Councilmember Volan advocates for more transparency in recycling services – WFHB, Jan. 27, 2016
Approaching autism theatrically (video) – TEDxBloomington, June 30, 2011