City Council Election Guide

The deadline to register to vote passed Tuesday, and municipal elections in Indiana are now in full swing.

Most incumbents in Monroe County have no challengers, including the race for Bloomington mayor. But the city council election features three challengers to sitting members.

Three new Democratic members will also officially be elected, but face no challengers from Republicans.

City-wide elections will be held Nov. 8.

CURRENT MEMBERS
Susan Sandberg - D
Council president and member at-large
Sandberg serves as the program coordinator for arts administration at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Andy Ruff - D
Council vice president and member at-large

Ruff serves as the undergraduate advisor in the IU Department of Geological Sciences.

Timothy Mayer - D
Member at-large.

Mayer was first elected to city council in 1983 and served until 1987. He was elected again in 1995 and has served since then.

He is the longest-serving member of the council.

Chris Sturbaum - D
District 1 council member

Sturbaum was first elected to city council in 2004. He served as vice president in 2005 and president in 2006.

Brad Wisler - R (not seeking reelection)
District Two council member

Wisler was appointed in 2006 by the Republican Party.

Michael Satterfield - D (Not seeking reelection)
District Three council member

Dave Rollo - D
District Four council member

Rollo is running for re-election unopposed.

Isabel Piedmont-Smith - D (Not seeking reelection)
District Five council member

Stephen Volan - D
District Six council member

CHALLENGERS
Ed Schwartzman - R
Schwartzman is running as an at-large candidate for City Council against Sandberg,
Ruff and Mayer.

He is an advocate for a medical amnesty law and wants to promote pro-business policies. He is also the owner of Buffa Louie’s.

Jennifer Mickel - R
Mickel is running as an at-large candidate for City Council against Sandberg, Ruff and Mayer.

She argues for smaller government, lower taxes and reducing government regulation of businesses.

Mickel owns a landscape design company.

Kristopher “KC” Baker - R
Baker is running as a candidate for City Council District One against Sturbaum.

NEWCOMERS
The following candidates were chosen in the May primary election and will not face Republican opponents in the general election.

Dorothy Granger - D
Granger is running for City Council District Two.

She served as Executive Director of Girls Inc. and as Development Director for

Martin Spechler - D
Spechler is running for City Council District Three.

He worked in the IU School of Liberal Arts until his retirement in 2010. 

Daryll Neher - D
Neher is running for City Council District Five.

Neher is involved in numerous charitable organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of Martha's House, a fundraiser for Boys and Girl Club of Bloomington and volunteering at the Bloomington animal shelter.