Kruzan secures second term

Volunteers recognized the arrival of newly-reelected Mayor Mark Kruzan at the Monroe County Democratic Party headquarters with screaming, clapping and kissing.\nKruzan thanked his supporters, “the real Democrats,” Tuesday night before congratulating future city council members and mingling with the crowd.\nBloomington re-elected Kruzan mayor by a margin of more than 30 percent. Republican challenger David Sabbagh called to concede the election at 8:04 p.m.\n“It’s extremely gratifying (to win),” Kruzan said. “More so than (in) 2003.”\nKruzan said he appreciated this year’s win more than his initial mayoral win, because voters were affirming the work of Bloomington’s Democratic incumbents.\nVoters came to the polls to support keeping Bloomington “a unique place to live,” he said.\nIU senior Ricardo Hernandez said he volunteered for Kruzan’s campaign even though he is not a Bloomington resident.\nHe said Kruzan’s progress in “social issues” in Bloomington made him passionate about working for the campaign this election. Since Hernandez has been in Bloomington almost four years, he said he has seen the high quality of Kruzan’s administration.\n“I’ve seen Mayor Kruzan and what he’s done for this community,” Hernandez said.\nMonroe County Democratic Party volunteer Geoff McKim was keeping track of the official tally of votes.\nMcKim said he voted for Kruzan because of his dedication to green space and concern about Bloomington’s growth.\n“He’s earned re-election,” McKim said. “He’s a candidate that represents Bloomington well and represents the vision that (residents) have.”\nSusan Sandberg, who won a seat as city council member at-large, agreed.\n“We’re already the town that a lot of other cities envy,” Sandberg said. “(The Democrats) will help make a good city better.”\nKruzan said his plans for improving the city for the next four years will center around making downtown a “more progressive and eclectic place.”\nAlthough Kruzan took the win as a response to his service in Bloomington and the overwhelming help from volunteers, he also credited his positive campaign with the win.\nHe said Sabbagh made “two tactical errors”: running as more of a Democrat than a Republican and “running against” Bloomington.\nSusan Dabkowski, Kruzan’s campaign manager, said Sabbagh was pointing out too much of what is wrong with Bloomington without offering substantive plans of how to fix the problems.\n“Our campaign has been very celebratory,” Dabkowski said. “It was 100 percent positive and clean and what’s good about Bloomington.”\nDabkowski, said the next four years will be spent “continuing what’s in the works.”\nThis includes plans for the certified tech park and the B-line trail, a rail corridor, she said.\n“He’s got a lot outlined for the next four years,” Dabkowski said. “He’s just hitting his prime.”\nKruzan said he will continue what he started in 2004.\n“(Expect) absolutely more of what we’ve been doing,” Kruzan said. “Only better.”