Matt Caldie – Page 2 – The B Square

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. Continue reading “Election 2024 | 4 contested races in Monroe County primaries: 1 council at-large, 3 commissioner” →

Democratic Party candidate names are in blue. Republican Party candidate names are in red. The locations for dots and labels of candidate names correspond to where the candidates live.

On Jan. 4, residents were able start filing official declarations of candidacy in the 2023 Bloomington primary elections.

But at noon on Friday, the time for filing official paperwork expired.

No unexpected declarations for mayor were recorded on the last day of filing. That means voters across the city in Bloomington’s Democratic Party primary on May 2 will have three mayoral candidates to choose from: Kerry Thomson; Susan Sandberg; and Don Griffin.

And Democrats will have a pool of seven at-large city council candidates—from which to choose three.

There’s only one candidate in the Democratic primary for city clerk—incumbent Nicole Bolden.

Republican voters will have no citywide candidates to choose from.

The one independent candidate for mayor who has filed paperwork to establish a committee is Joseph Davis. But he has not yet submitted the 352 signatures that he needs, in order to be placed on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. The deadline for Davis and any other independent candidates to submit signatures is June 30.

Continue reading “2023 Bloomington Elections | Primary field for Dems set: 3 for mayor, 5 of 6 council districts contested, 7 candidates for 3 at-large seats, 1 for clerk” →