Gordon sworn in as Perry Township trustee after caucus pick, transition starts

Perry Township’s new trustee, Leon Gordon, took the oath of office Tuesday evening (Feb. 3) in a brief ceremony at Bloomington’s city hall.

Standing in front of supporters, Gordon repeated the traditional oath, pledging to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Constitution, and to “faithfully, impartially and diligently discharge and perform the duties of Perry Township trustee, in Monroe County, Indiana, according to law, and to the best of my skill and abilities, so help me God.”

It was Gordon who emerged on Saturday (Jan. 31) as the choice of the Democratic Party’s caucus to fill the vacancy left by the death of long-time Perry Township trustee Dan Combs. In addition to Gordon, Eric Petry and Levi Combs, Dan’s son, stood as candidates in the vacancy caucus.

As the pick of the caucus, Gordon will serve through the end of 2026. The trustee starting in 2027 will be determined through the usual election process.

As of late Tuesday, both Petry and Levi Combs are still on file as candidates for the Democratic Party’s May 5 primary, along with Gordon. The deadline for withdrawal from the race is Feb. 13.

The reality of the potential upcoming campaign is something Gordon acknowledged after Saturday’s caucus, as well as after the swearing in. In addition to transitioning from his current work with the nonprofit, New Hope for Families, and to the role of township trustee, Gordon said there’s also the matter of a primary election.

About his work with New Hope, which has a mission to end family homelessness, Gordon said he is trying to make that transition carefully. “I’m kind of doing some due diligence with the families that I’m currently engaged with at New Hope,” Gordon said, so that they are not left “in a pickle.” Gordon said that New Hope executive director Emily Pike has been “by my side with this whole thing.” Pike attended Tuesday’s swearing in ceremony.

Gordon pointed to the relatively close geographic proximity of the township offices on South Walnut and the New Hope’s family shelter, which makes the transition easier—they’re just about a quarter mile away from each other. Gordon said he expects to be fully transitioned from New Hope in the next two weeks.

Gordon said township staff already made him feel welcome when he visited on Monday.

Under Indiana state law, the township trustee serves as the township’s executive, providing “poor relief”—food, housing and utilities, clothing, medical care, and burial costs—while also managing township money and property, maintaining records, and preparing budgets and reports.