In a statement released Friday night, Monroe County council president Eric Spoonmore has announced he will not seek re-election in 2022, representing District 4.
Spoonmore put it like this: “I will conclude my service on the Monroe County Council when my term expires at the end of 2022.”
Spoonmore currently serves as the president of the seven-member council, which is the county government’s fiscal body.
Spoonmore’s statement talks about the next year and a half that he will still be serving county residents: “I also recognize that the most important public service I have to offer as a member of the Council could well occur over the next 18 months as our County addresses a number of upcoming and exciting opportunities.”
The statement wraps up with an acknowledgement of his family’s support: “Finally, I want to thank my wife, Lindsey, and our family, who have made many sacrifices in allowing me to pursue my interests of public service.”
The statement concludes: “We look forward to discovering new ways to make a difference here in the community we love.”
A Democrat, Spoonmore’s service on the council began in November of 2015. He was the choice of the Democratic Party’s caucus to replace Rick Dietz, who resigned from the District 4 seat, when he moved out of the district. Dietz currently serves as director of the city of Bloomington’s IT department.
The territory of District 4 includes the western half of Bloomington as well as portions of the county outside the city boundaries.
But that could change when the new districts are supposed to be drawn later this year. The census figures have been delayed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s not exactly clear when redistricting at the county level will happen.
The seven-member county council includes the representatives of four geographic districts and three at-large representatives.
After being appointed in 2015, Spoonmore was unchallenged in 2018, both in the Democratic Party’s primary and in the general election.
Spoonmore has worked as associate director of enrollment management at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business for more than a decade.
Such a loss for Monroe County. Eric has been a steady and reasoned county councilmember. I am sad to lose my representative, and wish him the best in his next journey.