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Political notebook: 2 decades later, a déjà vu for Dems at District 5 city council vacancy caucus

Political notebook: 2 decades later, a déjà vu for Dems at District 5 city council vacancy caucus
Rollo named to replace Willsey - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 28, 2003 - page 1 January 28, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer With party chairman Frank McCloskey casting the tie-breaking vote, David Rollo emerged from Monday's Democratic caucus as the new Bloomington City Council member. Rollo, Jim Sherman and Buff Brown were caucus candidates to fill the District 4 seat, which became empty when former council member Jeffrey Willsey resigned. Rollo, a research associate with Indiana University's biology department, was sworn in Monday and will attend next week's council meeting as a council member. It took three votes and two tries. In 1996, Rollo filed for an at-large seat when Iris Kiesling resigned to run for a county commissioners seat. And at Monday's caucus, the eight precinct committee members from District 4 cast three separate secret votes. The first tally brought one vote to Brown, four to Rollo and three to Sherman. The next two tallies were split 4-4 between Sherman and Rollo, so McCloskey announced Rollo as his pick. Rollo said he would "work to ensure social services are well-funded." Rollo has served on the city's environmental commission for eight years. He said he worked on the city's new growth plan and has pushed for greenspace acquisition. Rollo said he supports cultural and natural amenities in Bloomington, calling the city's environment a comparative advantage. He said that while on the council, he wants to develop a dialogue about greenspace within the community. He hopes to work with developers, residents and officials in creative ways that are not "polarizing." "A large number of people feel excluded," Rollo said. He said he supports downtown compact urban form and the concept of new urbanism, but stressed the importance of affordable housing. Rollo will take the seat for the one year left in Willsey's term, and said he will file to keep the seat for another four years in this year's election. Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com. Good luck to Rollo - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 29, 2003 - page 1 January 29, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) Congratulations to Dave Rollo, who was selected Monday to serve out the city council term of Jeffrey Willsey, who has resigned. Rollo is a research associate with IU's biology department and chairman of Bloomington's environmental commission. His selection further suggested a split between two wings of the Democratic party , one seen as a deeper "green," one as more business friendly. Four caucus members favored him, and four favored his main competitor, Jim Sherman, who had served two terms previously on the city council. Party chairman Frank McCloskey cast the deciding vote. His five selectors picked him to represent the Fourth District on a council that represents all of Bloomington. We encourage him to work hard for all, and we wish him well. Democrats to fill seat tonight - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 27, 2003 - page 1 January 27, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer Bloomington Democrats will decide tonight who will fill an empty seat on the city council. The seat representing District 4 became vacant when Jeffrey Willsey resigned earlier this month. Either Jim Sherman, a psychology professor at Indiana University, or David Rollo, a research associate with IU's biology department, will be sworn in as the district's new representative. The new member will attend the council's next meeting on Feb. 5. A caucus of eight precinct committee members from District 4, which covers the southeast side of Bloomington, will vote on the two candidates tonight. They are Lois Sabo-Skelton, Tim Mayer, Jack Davis, Trudy Marsischky, Iris Kiesling, Dave Toumey, Becky Wann and Jim Regester. While the council districts were redrawn last year, the precinct committee members "represent the district as it stood when Jeffrey was elected," said Regina Moore, city clerk. Willsey, who had one year left in his term, attended his last meeting Jan. 15. In a resignation announcement, Willsey said "my two small children need and deserve my full-time attention at this time." Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com. Sherman, Rollo seek council seat - Democratic - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 23, 2003 - page 1 January 23, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer Jim Sherman, an Indiana University psychology professor, and David Rollo, a research associate in IU's biology department, are the two contenders so far for an open city council seat to be filled next week. A caucus is set Monday to fill the District 4 seat — for the remaining year of the term — after Jeffrey Willsey, a Democrat, resigned this month. Wednesday, Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Frank McCloskey said Rollo and Sherman had filed documents with him. Other interested candidates have until Friday to file. McCloskey had also expressed interest in the position, but said Wednesday he's changed his mind. "Basically, I'm not ready at this point, given other concerns and priorities in my life, to commit to a five-year project that this would involve." The former Bloomington mayor and six-term U.S. congressman said he's given the decision much thought and will continue to remain active. "I'm happy and at peace with that decision. It has nothing to do with health-care concerns," he said. McCloskey was diagnosed with bladder cancer last summer and has been undergoing treatment. Rollo, chairman of the city's environmental commission, said he is concerned with the environment and protecting the dwindling green space. "On a city level, I feel we're really at a turning point where the city is going," Rollo said. Rollo gave input on the city's new growth plan, and is interested in seeing "it materialize as a reality." Rollo said he is also concerned about the district and its infrastructure. This will be Rollo's second shake with a caucus. In 1996, he filed for at an-large seat when Iris Kiesling resigned to run for county commissioners. "I'm very proud to be a Democrat," Rollo said. "Whoever wins will serve the party well." For two terms, Jim Sherman represented District 4 — before Willsey — and he wants to return to city service. "I enjoy doing city work and serving the city. I try to make part of my life either serving the city or the university. I've done both, I enjoy both," Sherman said. He said he enjoyed seeing things get done at the city level, ranging from trash collection to improvements to streets and sidewalks. Sherman said he is also "worried about social service agencies in Bloomington. They're getting less and less money." He also cited the city's new growth plan as a key issue as the city works on a zoning ordinance. Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com.

Last Saturday, Courtney Daily was picked by the Democratic Party chairs of eight precincts in Bloomington city council’s District 5, to fill the vacancy left by Shruti Rana’s resignation.

That meant several bits of two-decade-old local civic history were essentially repeated.

In late January 2003, a Democratic Party caucus put Dave Rollo into the vacant seat left by the resignation of Jeffrey Willsey.

There are several differences, but also striking similarities, between the two caucuses, which were held 21 years apart.

Among the differences, the seat that Rollo was tapped to represent was for District 4 not District 5.

In 2003, the Monroe County Democratic Party chair who presided over the District 4 vacancy caucus was the late Frank McCloskey. In the intervening time, a half dozen others have served in that role. Last Saturday, it was David Henry who presided over Saturday’s proceedings as county chair.

Among the historical repeats: At both caucuses, there was a tie vote, which under state law had to be broken by the county party chair.

At both caucuses, it was a 4–4 tie that had to be broken, after two rounds of voting had left the eight precinct chairs deadlocked on two candidates. And at both caucuses, the first round of voting included three candidates.

Last Saturday, the starting field of three candidates was: Courtney Daily, Jenny Stevens, and Jason Moore. In 2003 the first round of voting included: Dave Rollo, Jim Sherman, and Buff Brown.

In a slight difference between the two caucuses, in the 2003 first round, Brown received just one vote, which meant that he dropped out automatically from the next round, which was between Rollo and Sherman.

Last Saturday, the first round left Moore and Daily with two votes apiece and it was a runoff between those two (Daily 5; Moore 3) that put Daily through for a two-up vote against Stevens.

In 2003, the eight precinct chairs who voted in the caucus apparently represented each of the precincts of District 4. (The Herald-Times coverage at the time did not indicate that there were any missing precincts.) Last Saturday, there were eight instead of nine precinct chairs participating in the vote, because one precinct chair had resigned after moving out of District 5.

Here’s the list of eight precinct chairs who voted in the vacancy caucus last Saturday: Jennifer Crossley, Patricia Williams, Manuel Diaz-Campos, Courtney Daily, Iris Kiesling, Sarah Bauerle, Edward Robertson, and Matt Flaherty.

Based on Herald-Times coverage, here’s the list of eight precinct chairs who voted in the 2003 District 4 vacancy caucus: Lois Sabo-Skelton, Timothy Mayer, Jack Davis, Trudy Marsischky, Iris Kiesling, Dave Toumey, Becky Wann and Jim Regester. (The Herald-Times archives are available through the Monroe County Public Library.)

One thing that both sets of precinct chairs have in common is that there’s one person on each roster who was serving on the Bloomington city council at the time of the caucus—which meant they had a hand in selecting their next new colleague. Last Saturday, it was Matt Flaherty. In 2003 that person was Timothy Mayer.

Flaherty was appointed to his precinct chairship by the county chair, not elected to the post— he does not live in the precinct. The B Square has not checked into the MCDP’s historical archives to see if Mayer was elected to his precinct chairship, or was appointed by the county chair at the time.

Another thing that both sets of precinct chairs have in common is Iris Kiesling. She was a part of the 4–4 tie vote in 2003 as well as the 4–4 tie vote last Saturday. Kiesling served on the Bloomington city council from 1988 to 1996 and as a county commissioner for 20 years after that.

Not evident from the Herald-Times coverage at the time, but confirmed by The B Square with then-MCDP vice chair, and former city clerk, Regina Moore, is one more point of similarity between the two caucuses. The 2003 caucus was held in city hall on Morton Street, in city council chambers, just like the one last Saturday.

Courtney Daily will be seated at the dais in city council chambers next Wednesday for her first city council meeting. Based on the assigned seating, if Daily takes Rana’s literal seat, then she will be at the far right (north) end, five spots away from Dave Rollo, who is the longest-serving member on the current city council.

Daily is associate director for admissions with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business direct online MBA program. She’s known through her activism with the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Rollo named to replace Willsey - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 28, 2003 - page 1 January 28, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer With party chairman Frank McCloskey casting the tie-breaking vote, David Rollo emerged from Monday's Democratic caucus as the new Bloomington City Council member. Rollo, Jim Sherman and Buff Brown were caucus candidates to fill the District 4 seat, which became empty when former council member Jeffrey Willsey resigned. Rollo, a research associate with Indiana University's biology department, was sworn in Monday and will attend next week's council meeting as a council member. It took three votes and two tries. In 1996, Rollo filed for an at-large seat when Iris Kiesling resigned to run for a county commissioners seat. And at Monday's caucus, the eight precinct committee members from District 4 cast three separate secret votes. The first tally brought one vote to Brown, four to Rollo and three to Sherman. The next two tallies were split 4-4 between Sherman and Rollo, so McCloskey announced Rollo as his pick. Rollo said he would "work to ensure social services are well-funded." Rollo has served on the city's environmental commission for eight years. He said he worked on the city's new growth plan and has pushed for greenspace acquisition. Rollo said he supports cultural and natural amenities in Bloomington, calling the city's environment a comparative advantage. He said that while on the council, he wants to develop a dialogue about greenspace within the community. He hopes to work with developers, residents and officials in creative ways that are not "polarizing." "A large number of people feel excluded," Rollo said. He said he supports downtown compact urban form and the concept of new urbanism, but stressed the importance of affordable housing. Rollo will take the seat for the one year left in Willsey's term, and said he will file to keep the seat for another four years in this year's election. Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com. Good luck to Rollo - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 29, 2003 - page 1 January 29, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) Congratulations to Dave Rollo, who was selected Monday to serve out the city council term of Jeffrey Willsey, who has resigned. Rollo is a research associate with IU's biology department and chairman of Bloomington's environmental commission. His selection further suggested a split between two wings of the Democratic party , one seen as a deeper "green," one as more business friendly. Four caucus members favored him, and four favored his main competitor, Jim Sherman, who had served two terms previously on the city council. Party chairman Frank McCloskey cast the deciding vote. His five selectors picked him to represent the Fourth District on a council that represents all of Bloomington. We encourage him to work hard for all, and we wish him well. Democrats to fill seat tonight - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 27, 2003 - page 1 January 27, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer Bloomington Democrats will decide tonight who will fill an empty seat on the city council. The seat representing District 4 became vacant when Jeffrey Willsey resigned earlier this month. Either Jim Sherman, a psychology professor at Indiana University, or David Rollo, a research associate with IU's biology department, will be sworn in as the district's new representative. The new member will attend the council's next meeting on Feb. 5. A caucus of eight precinct committee members from District 4, which covers the southeast side of Bloomington, will vote on the two candidates tonight. They are Lois Sabo-Skelton, Tim Mayer, Jack Davis, Trudy Marsischky, Iris Kiesling, Dave Toumey, Becky Wann and Jim Regester. While the council districts were redrawn last year, the precinct committee members "represent the district as it stood when Jeffrey was elected," said Regina Moore, city clerk. Willsey, who had one year left in his term, attended his last meeting Jan. 15. In a resignation announcement, Willsey said "my two small children need and deserve my full-time attention at this time." Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com. Sherman, Rollo seek council seat - Democratic - Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) - January 23, 2003 - page 1 January 23, 2003 | Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN) | Sarah Morin Herald-Times Staff Writer Jim Sherman, an Indiana University psychology professor, and David Rollo, a research associate in IU's biology department, are the two contenders so far for an open city council seat to be filled next week. A caucus is set Monday to fill the District 4 seat — for the remaining year of the term — after Jeffrey Willsey, a Democrat, resigned this month. Wednesday, Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Frank McCloskey said Rollo and Sherman had filed documents with him. Other interested candidates have until Friday to file. McCloskey had also expressed interest in the position, but said Wednesday he's changed his mind. "Basically, I'm not ready at this point, given other concerns and priorities in my life, to commit to a five-year project that this would involve." The former Bloomington mayor and six-term U.S. congressman said he's given the decision much thought and will continue to remain active. "I'm happy and at peace with that decision. It has nothing to do with health-care concerns," he said. McCloskey was diagnosed with bladder cancer last summer and has been undergoing treatment. Rollo, chairman of the city's environmental commission, said he is concerned with the environment and protecting the dwindling green space. "On a city level, I feel we're really at a turning point where the city is going," Rollo said. Rollo gave input on the city's new growth plan, and is interested in seeing "it materialize as a reality." Rollo said he is also concerned about the district and its infrastructure. This will be Rollo's second shake with a caucus. In 1996, he filed for at an-large seat when Iris Kiesling resigned to run for county commissioners. "I'm very proud to be a Democrat," Rollo said. "Whoever wins will serve the party well." For two terms, Jim Sherman represented District 4 — before Willsey — and he wants to return to city service. "I enjoy doing city work and serving the city. I try to make part of my life either serving the city or the university. I've done both, I enjoy both," Sherman said. He said he enjoyed seeing things get done at the city level, ranging from trash collection to improvements to streets and sidewalks. Sherman said he is also "worried about social service agencies in Bloomington. They're getting less and less money." He also cited the city's new growth plan as a key issue as the city works on a zoning ordinance. Reporter Sarah Morin can be reached at 331-4363 or by e-mail at smorin@heraldt.com.

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