Monroe County Democrats confirm Rob Council as new vice chair

At their third caucus in six months, on Sunday afternoon Monroe County Democrats elected Rob Council as their vice chair.

Council is a compliance officer in the city of Bloomington’s HAND (Housing and Neighborhood Development) Department.

Council will now be the backup to county chair Chrissie Geels, who was elected to that position last month at a vacancy caucus. Geels was previously vice chair, and resigned that position to serve as chair.

The chairship was left vacant after Samuel Ujdak resigned in the third week of June, three and a half months after being elected as chair, citing personal reasons.

All of the recent elections for party offices in the Monroe County Democratic Party—those in early March as well as in the two ensuing vacancy caucuses—have been uncontested.

Council was a familiar face for party members. He was a candidate in the early-year caucus to fill the vacancy on the Monroe County council, after the death of Cheryl Munson in late 2024. That vacancy was filled by Liz Feitl, who attended the Sunday caucus that put Council in the vice chair’s seat. Several other elected officials also attended Sunday’s event, which was held in the Bloomington city council chambers at city hall on Morton Street.

In Council’s statement as a candidate in the county council vacancy caucus, he described himself as a lifelong resident of Monroe County. He has served on the city’s commission on aging since 2023.Council is also active in the Tri-North Middle School PTO, according to his council candidate’s statement.

On Sunday, Council’s brief remarks included rallying points for Democrats, like Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté’s policy on immigration law enforcement which is currently being challenged in court by Indiana state attorney general Todd Rokita. Marté attended Sunday’s caucus.

Council also noted his role in the city’s HAND department, which deals with housing and homelessness, saying: “Our mayor, our HAND staff, and staff all across the city departments, have been working on solutions that go beyond short-term fixes.”

Council continued, “We’re tackling the root causes of housing insecurity. We’re supporting smart developments, and we’re finding ways to make housing affordable and accessible for working families in Bloomington.”