This site provides nonpartisan information about the May 7, 2019 City of Bloomington primary elections for mayor, clerk and council. In addition to general information, you’ll find links to profile pages for each candidate, which will be updated throughout the election cycle.
Election results – click here.
The 22 total candidates in the Democratic Party primary for city offices this year are tied for the highest number of candidates since 1971.
To register to vote, check your registration status or find your polling location, go to the Indiana Voter Portal. NOTE: Early voting begins on Tuesday, April 9 at Election Central, 401 W. 7th St., Suite 100 in downtown Bloomington. Click here for information on absentee voting by mail or by traveling board. For sample ballots, click here.
Bloomington Mayor
The mayor of Bloomington is elected to a four-year term and serves as the city’s chief executive, with the 9-member council acting as the legislative branch. The mayor oversees the city’s administration, including the appointment of department heads. This is a full-time position with a salary of $107,508.
This year, two candidates initially declared they were running in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Amanda Barge and John Hamilton, the incumbent. On March 26, Barge announced she was suspending her campaign, after allegations of sexual harassment, which she denies, were published in the Indiana Daily Student. On April 9, she declared that if she receives more votes than Hamilton, she would not accept the party’s nomination. She also resigned as Monroe County commissioner, effective April 8.
Barge’s name will still appear on the ballot. There are no Republican candidates in the primary.
Click here for Amanda Barge’s candidate profile.
Click here for John Hamilton’s candidate profile.
Bloomington City Clerk
The Bloomington city clerk maintains the municipal code and official records of the city council, posts public notices, certifies council minutes, processes boards and commissions openings, hears parking ticket appeals, serves as a satellite voter registration office, and performs weddings and civil ceremonies, among other duties. This is a full-time job with a salary of $57,707.
The current clerk, Nicole Bolden, is the only candidate on the May 7 ballot for the Democratic primary. No Republicans will appear on the primary ballot, so it’s unlikely she’ll be challenged in the Nov. 5 general election. The clerk serves a four-year term.
Click here for Nicole Bolden’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: Overview
The 9-member Bloomington Common Council is the legislative branch of city government. A seat on council is considered a part-time job with a salary of $16,127. Starting in 2019, the president and vice president of the council – who are elected by their colleagues at the first meeting of the year – receive an extra $1,000 and $800, respectively.
Each of the city’s six districts has a representative on council. Three at-large seats represent residents citywide.
Bloomington Common Council: District 1
District 1 covers portions of Bloomington’s west and south sides. (Click here for a map of city districts.) This year, three candidates are running in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Kate Rosenbarger, Chris Sturbaum, and Denise Valkyrie. No Republicans are on the primary ballot, so the winner of this primary will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Kate Rosenbarger’s candidate profile.
Click here for Chris Sturbaum’s candidate profile.
Click here for Denise Valkyrie’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: District 2
District 2 covers portions of Bloomington’s north and northwest sides. (Click here for a map of city districts.) This year, three candidates are running in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Daniel Bingham, Dorothy Granger and Sue Sgambelluri.
Click here for Daniel Bingham’s candidate profile.
Click here for Dorothy Granger’s candidate profile.
Click here for Sue Sgambelluri’s candidate profile.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Andrew Guenther in the Nov. 5 general election. Guenther is unopposed in the May primary.
Click here for Andrew Guenther’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: District 3
District 3 covers portions of Bloomington’s northeast and east sides. (Click here for a map of city districts.) This year, two candidates are running in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Jim Blickensdorf and Ron Smith. On March 27, Blickensdorf announced that he has resigned from the city’s Parking Commission and was discontinuing his council campaign. The announcement came four days after the Bloomington Herald-Times published an article about his 1998 involvement in the purchase of a Bedford strip club and of fines and court fees related to unpaid parking tickets. His name will still appear on the ballot.
The incumbent Democrat, Allison Chopra, is not seeking re-election. No Republicans filed for this seat, so the winner of the Democratic primary will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Jim Blickensdorf’s candidate profile.
Click here for Ron Smith’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: District 4
District 4 covers parts of east and southeast Bloomington. (Click here for a map of city districts.) Two candidates are competing in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Miah Michaelsen and Dave Rollo. No Republicans filed for this seat in the primary, so the winner of the Democratic primary will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Miah Michaelsen’s candidate profile.
Click here for Dave Rollo’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: District 5
District 5 covers portions of south and southeast Bloomington. (Click here for a map of city districts.) Two candidates are competing in the May 7 Democratic Party primary: Ryan Maloney and Isabel Piedmont-Smith. No Republicans filed for this seat in the primary, so the winner of the Democratic primary will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Ryan Maloney’s candidate profile.
Click here for Isabel Piedmont-Smith’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: District 6
District 6 covers most of Bloomington’s downtown area, and a dogleg along Atwater. (Click here for a map of city districts.) The incumbent, Steve Volan, is the only candidate in the May 7 Democratic Party primary. No Republicans filed for this seat in the primary, so Volan will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Steve Volan’s candidate profile.
Bloomington Common Council: At-Large
The nine-member council has three at-large seats. At-large councilmembers are elected citywide. This year, six candidates – including the three incumbents – are vying for at-large seats: Vauhxx Booker, Jean Capler, Matt Flaherty, Andy Ruff, Susan Sandberg and Jim Sims. No Republicans appear on the primary ballot for the at-large seats, so the winners of the primary will likely be unchallenged in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for Vauhxx Booker’s candidate profile.
Click here for Jean Capler’s candidate profile.
Click here for Matt Flaherty’s candidate profile.
Click here for Andy Ruff’s candidate profile.
Click here for Susan Sandberg’s candidate profile.
Click here for Jim Sims’ candidate profile.