Election 2024 | 4 contested races in Monroe County primaries: 1 council at-large, 3 commissioner

Friday at noon was the deadline for declaration of a candidacy for local office in a major party primary this year.

When the deadline passed, the filings in Monroe County added up to four contested primary races—three for the Democrats and one for Republicans. The primary election falls on May 7, with early voting starting two months from now, on April 9.

It was the District 3 race for county commissioner that drew the most interest, with a total of five filings—by three Democrats and two Republicans.

The incumbent, Democrat Penny Githens, will compete in a three-way race for her party’s nomination. Filing for District 3 on Jan. 10, the first day it was possible to declare a candidacy, was former Bloomington city councilmember Steve Volan. Filing for District 3 on Friday, the final day of the window, was Indiana University law professor Jody Madeira.

For the Republicans, the primary race will be contested between Joe VanDeventer, who is director of street operations for the city of Bloomington, and Paul White, Sr. who has previously run for elected office, most recently for county recorder.

In the District 2 race for county commissioner, two Democrats filed paperwork—incumbent Julie Thomas and challenger Peter Iversen, who currently serves on the Monroe County council.

Even though eligibility to serve as a commissioner is determined by geographic district, they are chosen by voters countrywide. So all registered voters in Monroe County can vote for the District 2 and District 3 county commissioner candidates. District 1 is on a different four-year cycle from the other two districts. Incumbent county commissioner for District 1, Lee Jones, was elected to that position two years ago.

Four Democrats filed for the three open seats for at-large county councilor. Incumbents Trent Deckard and Cheryl Munson filed their paperwork.

Also declaring a candidacy for at-large county council was David Henry, who is an instructor in homeland security at Indiana University and Monroe County Democratic Party chair. Rounding out the four-person field for the three open at-large county council seats is Matt Caldie, who works for IU parking operations and has served on Bloomington’s environmental commission for several years.

Incumbent at-large county councilor Geoff McKim is not running for reelection. That’s because he has taken a job as a federal employee and is prohibited by the Hatch Act from running as a candidate in a partisan election.

The Democrats have complete coverage of the rest of the open seats in county government this year.

Filing for reelection as Monroe County circuit court judges were incumbents Christine Talley Haseman, Catherine Stafford, and Darcie Fawcett.

Filing for county surveyor was incumbent Trohn Enright-Randolph. Filing for county coroner was Jeff Hall, who is a former coroner. Incumbent coroner Joani Stalcup is not running for reelection, because she is term limited.

Term limited as county auditor was Cathy Smith, who is now running for treasurer as the only candidate in the Democratic Party’s primary. Smith was the only candidate in the recent party caucus  to select a replacement for Jessica McClellan, who resigned as county treasurer at the start of the year to accept an appointment from new Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson as city controller.

Smith’s selection as county treasurer at least through the end of this year meant that the auditor’s position became vacant. On Saturday (Feb. 10), the Democratic Party will hold a caucus to select a replacement for Smith. The only candidate to file paperwork as a candidate in the auditor’s vacancy caucus was Bri Gregory, who is the county’s financial director.

Gregory has also filed the paperwork declaring her candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination as auditor in the May 7 primary.