Council selects member

Dave Rollo, a research associate in Indiana's Biology Department, will serve as the interim city councilman for District Four, on Bloomington's southeast side. At a party caucus on Monday night local Democratic Party Chairman Frank McCloskey broke two four to four votes by the district's precinct representatives to give Rollo the seat recently vacated by Jeffrey Willsey. After McCloskey broke the tie, City Clerk Regina Moore administered the oath of office and swore Rollo in as a councilman. \nAlso contending for the seat were Lawrence "Buff" Brown, an engineer who is finishing law and environmental science degrees at IU and Jim Sherman, who represented the Fourth District from 1992 to 2000. Brown was eliminated after the first round of voting after receiving one vote to Rollo's four and Sherman's three. Five votes were necessary to assume the seat. \nEach candidate made a brief presentation and speech before the precinct representatives voted. Rollo cited his Democratic Party activism and attention to environmental issues as key qualifications to the assembled crowd at the City Council chamber.\n"I have been involved in the Democratic Party on trade issues, economic justice, media diversity and campaign finance reform," Rollo said before quoting Franklin Roosevelt on the need for an equitable government. "Local government must be attentive to the unemployed worker, the single mother coming off of welfare, the senior citizen on Social Security."\nOn economic development issues, Rollo, who has a masters degree in plant biology, drew a parallel between some of his research in the lab and the necessity for a variety of business and employment opportunities to develop an economically vibrant and sustainable city. \n"In ecology, a diverse ecosystem is sustainable over time," Rollo said. "It's the same with the local economy. We must be sure that low-income citizens are not marginalized."\nRollo also said that funding the city's social service agencies was one of his priorities, especially given weak economic conditions. Across the state, funding dollars for programs like child care have been cut as more people around the state become eligible for benefits. Bloomington dropped 150 families from the city's Community and Family resources child care assistance program in October after receiving less money from the state. \nAll three of the candidates also mentioned the Growth Policies Plan a document approved last fall that articulates a vision of how Bloomington will develop over the next few years. Brown even called the GPP "enlightened" while Rollo said it was a crucial part of creating a sustainable city. The council will begin implementing the GPP this spring. \nRegarding two of the pressing issues the Council will debate in the coming weeks, a smoking ban ordinance and construction projects downtown, Rollo said he wants to hear from people in his district about the smoking ordinance and that he supports redevelopment downtown.\n"Semicon has always been a thorn in the side of Bloomington," Rollo said about the abandoned factory that is due to be torn down this week. "Some have questioned moving students downtown but I think it's a good development"