2019 Bloomington Primary|Council Candidate At-Large: Matt Flaherty
Outcome: 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]
Matt Flaherty is running for a four-year term on the Bloomington Common Council as an at-large councilmember. He is one of six candidates vying for three seats in the May 7, 2019 Democratic Party primary. Other candidates are Vauhxx Booker, Jean Capler, Andy Ruff, Susan Sandberg and Jim Sims.
No Republicans have filed for the at-large seats in the May primary.
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 also running for council as a District 1 candidate in the Democratic primary. They held a joint campaign kick-off event in February.
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
- Pre-Primary Report of Receipts and Expenditures
In the News: Matt Flaherty
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