The following candidates for Municipal Office have been endorsed by Democracy For Monroe County.
John Hamilton for Mayor
Isabel Piedmont-Smith for City Council, District 5
Jean Capler and Jim Sims for City Council, At-Large
Category Archives: Candidates
Responses by our Endorsed Candidates to our 2018 Questionnaire
As part of DFMC’s Endorsement Process, we send all candidates Questionnaires for them to fill out and send back to us. Their responses are then shared with our members. Click on the link below to read the responses of our Endorsed Candidates who are currently involved in contested primaries.
DFMC Endorsed Candidates Responses to the DFMC Candidate 2018 Questionnaire
After the Primary Election, we will post the responses of those Endorsed Candidates who have Republican opponents in the General Election.
DFMC’s own Tom Duffy Speaks to Trey Hollingsworth
Notes from the Trenches
Tom Duffy, Chair DFMC
Cindy and I went to protest Trey last night and it was a very interesting experience. We started holding the signs a little after 5:00. By 5:45 we had about 75 people all with signs and a megaphone or two to lead chants. And we had a photographer and reporter from the H-T as well as WTIU. People attending the fund raiser started arriving around 5:30. Most acted as if we did not exist – but there were some good natured waves. I kept asking people if they would come and talk with us since Trey won’t meet. No takers.
About 6:00 Cindy and I went into the fundraiser with Mike Molenda and Janet Stavropoulos. We owe a HUGE thank you to Katherine Devich for offering tickets to attend. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Overall there were about a dozen dems at the affair – most of whom had been outside protesting. Before going on to the details of the affair, I would like to thank William Ellis, the chair of the Monroe County Republican Party and the MC for the event. He was gracious and friendly in welcoming us and, as Trey was distracted as he visited tables, William made sure Trey made his way back to our table.
I did have a brief conversation with Trey, but before that let me provide a few notes on what was said at the affair:
• Luke Messer is running for Joe Donnelly’s seat in the
Senate.
• Donald Trump Jr is going to be at their State meeting
(apparently this is hot off the press)
• Trey told us that he really wants to hear from the people. He
hesitated on voting for Trump care because he wanted to
read it, think about it, and ask citizens what they thought.
• Trey also told us that he really wants to know what his
constituents think so every week they make 300 to 500
random phone calls to constituents to learn what is on their
(our) minds. That is a large number of calls – so those of you
were there let me know if I got it wrong – but that is what
at least two of us heard. If they are randomly selected
constituents, I would expect some of us got one of those
calls????
In talking to someone in the drink line we were asking how Trey won the primary. I was told that he did little meeting with people but rather flooded the district with mail, phone calls, and push-pull polls. But he spent very little time with people. Remember this is just the opinion of one person I was talking to.
Trey visited all the tables before he talked. When he came to our table I told him I was chair of DFMC and told him about William Ellis (chair, MCRP) and Robert Hall (Grass Roots Conservatives) coming to one of our meetings and receiving a spontaneous round of applause. And that most importantly we found common ground on redistricting and money in politics. I told Trey I would like him to be part of a DFMC meeting and have a conversation with us. He said yes, he said “yes” several times – emphasizing that we are all “Americans first.” He had his PR person give me his phone number to find a date. Cindy recorded the conversation just so there is no missing the commitment he made. You can listen to it here.
So, while I suspect this is going to take some persistence, I am hopeful we will be able to host a very interesting meeting.
How to Win Elections: Reflections from the Candidates – DFMC February Link-up
How Do We Win Voters:
Reflections from the Candidates
Link-ups will normally be the second Thursday of the month – mark it on your calendar. This month we have moved the date so we can all attend Mayor Hamilton’s State of the City address.
We are so excited that this month’s panel has been able to adjust to the date change. Our progressive candidates who were in competitive races were invited to talk with us about their experiences in trying to recruit/enlist the rural and moderate Republican citizens in their districts. The goal is to understand what they learned and how we can use that to reach out and build alliances beyond Bloomington as well as to aid future campaigns. Our panel discussing these issues includes:
Shelli Yoder, Candidate for U.S. House, 9th District
Penny Githens, Candidate for Indiana House, 60th District
Bill Breeden, Candidate for Indiana House, 46th District
Linda Henderson, Candidate for Indiana Senate, 44th District
As usual, we gather at 6:00PM with the event starting at 6:30PM. Remember we are meeting at the Monroe County Public Library, Rm 1B and we will have pizza and bottles of water.
Everyone is invited. Please bring friends and introduce them to DFMC. While membership is not required, joining for $20 a year helps us put on our link-ups and support the progressive agenda.
Calls to Action.
We hope you will take an active role in DFMC not only in responding to the link-ups but also:
- Attend board meetings and offer your input on topics for future linkups and on how we can make DFMC more effective.
- Join DFMC committees to build our agenda. The committees are
- Outreach (membership, education, collaborations)
- Events (Link-ups; fund raisers).
- Candidate Endorsement and support
- Technology
If you are interested in being on a committee write chair@democracyformonroecounty.org
February DFMC Board Meeting. Monday, February 13 at 6:30PM, we holding our next DFMC board meeting in the back room at Player’s Pub. This meeting is open to all. Please submit agenda items to chair@democracyformonroecounty.org if you have a topic you would like us to address. The draft agenda can be found here: https://democracyformonroecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/2017/02/DFMC Board Agenda 13 Feb.docx
DFMC Elections and Membership Renewal
The election for the DFMC board and officers has been set for January 19, 6:30, at the Monroe County Library in Room 1b. Each eligible member in good standing and in attendance will receive a ballot with which to vote.
What constitutes a member in good standing? If you are currently a member for 2016, paying your dues by December 31st would keep you in good standing. If you are newly joining our group, you must complete enrollment and pay your 2017 dues by December 20th. This will satisfy the by-laws rule of having been in good standing for 30 days by the time of the election. Membership in the DFMC is year to year beginning January 1st and lasting until December 31st. Those paying prior to December 31, 2016 will be granted membership through December 31, 2017.
Instructions for paying dues:
Complete by-laws can be found here:
Intentions to run for the board (including officer positions) must be submitted by midnight, December 31. Officer positions include: Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Chair and Vice Chair. The board consists of these four officers plus up to 8 additional board members for a total board of up to 12 members.
Anyone running for a board or officer position must also be a member in good standing at the time of election. Officers must have been members in good standing for one year (two for chair) at the time of election and otherwise meet all requirements as outlined in the by-laws.
As part of their candidate declaration, each candidate is requested to submit a written statement outlining: the direction you would like to see the organization take, your background, and your political experience. A comprehensive list of candidates along with their statements will be published January 1 or 2 on this Facebook page as well as the DFMC website.
If you have any questions or would like to declare your candidacy please contact current Chair Robert Deppert at robertdeppert@gmail.com or chair@democracyformonroecounty.org.
Thank You for your participation!
Meet the Challengers for the Indiana Statehouse
Come on down to the May DFMC link-up to Meet the Challengers for the Indiana Statehouse, Thursday at 6 PM – 8:30 PM at Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse, 1635 N College Ave, Bloomington, Indiana 47404. The Democratic Party has some mighty walls to break down in this pivotal election season. We have invited the candidates in this area that are set to challenge to flip Republican seats to Democratic seats in Indiana Statehouse races.They will introduce themselves and we have asked them to discuss their strategy for winning these races. These candidates include: Penny Gitthens challenging Rep. Peggy Mayfield, and Bill Breeden challenging Rep. Bob Heaton. Chris Woods, who is challenging a non-incumbent, Christopher May, is also confirmed. These candidates are going to need every ounce of help that we can give them in this task. Come have a beer with us, or glass of wine, or water for that matter, and lets find some solutions to the embarrassment that is our Indiana Statehouse.
Feel free to RSVP and share at the Facebook version of this invite!
DFMC Endorses Huffman and Fawcett
After our Endorsement Committee made initial recommendations, and our entire membership was given the opportunity to vote for whom we would endorse, Democracy for Monroe County has given its endorsement to two candidates in local Democratic primary elections: James Hans Huffman for Monroe County Treasurer, and Darcie Fawcett for Monroe County Circuit Court 1.
After two rounds of voting (the first to reduce the field in each race to two candidates), solid majorities within our membership voted for these two fine candidates. Since other votes were very narrow, no other endorsements will be made, but we wish the best of luck to all of our Democratic candidates this Tuesday and beyond.
APRIL LINK-UP AND ENDORSEMENTS VOTING 2016
NOTE: THIS MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 14!!
Democracy for Monroe County is pleased to announce our April 2016 Link-Up, to take place on Thursday, April 14, 2015, gathering at 6pm at Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse, on North College Avenue in Bloomington. 6-6:30pm is social hour and a chance to get some food and drink. Business commences at 6:30 and should be concluded by 8:30.
This is the Link-Up at which we will be voting on endorsements of candidates in the 2016 Bloomington municipal election. All members in good standing are eligible to vote on endorsements. “Good standing” means that you have paid your year-2016 dues of $20 on or before March 8, 2016.
All candidates who have chosen to seek our endorsement have submitted responses to several questions. Those responses are attached to this post. DFMC members are encouraged to read over these responses before attending the Link-Up. You may also want to watch the DFMC sponsored primary debates, held last month on March 21 and March 29 In addition, our endorsements committee will deliver their report at the Link-Up, which will include any recommendations that they have made.
We encourage members to attend the meeting and cast your votes at that time, after hearing the report of the committee, so that you may make a fully-informed decision.
Please join us! If you are on Facebook, look for our upcoming invitation and submit your RSVP so we know to expect you.
Candidate responses may be downloaded below.
2016 Questionnaire Circuit Court 1 – Holly Harvey
2016 Questionnaire Circuit Court 1 – Michael Flory
2016 Questionnaire Commissioner District 3 – Amanda Barge
2016 Questionnaire Commissioner District 3 – John Whikehart
2016 Questionnaire Commissioner District 3 – Rick Dietz
2016 Questionnaire State Senate District 40 – Mark Stoops
2016 questionnaire State Senate District 40 – Tom K Pappas
2016 Questionnaire Treasurer – Cathy Smith
2016 Questionnaire Treasurer – Hans Huffman
2016 Questionnaire Treasurer – Jessica McClellan
2016 Questionnaire Auditor – Kevin Easton
2016 Questionnaire Auditor – Terri Porter
DFMC to Host Local Democratic Primary Debates
Democracy for Monroe County would like to invite all local voters to meet this year’s democratic primary election candidates! Our second session of debates takes place Tuesday, March 29th. You may also submit questions for the moderators to ask of the candidates. Click here to learn more. Our first evening of debates on March 21 was a great success in bringing together candidates and community members. We hope you will join us on the 29th!
Endorsements! We have Endorsements!
Congratulations to the following candidates who received endorsements from DFMC this evening:
Nicole Bolden, for City Clerk
Kevin Easton, for City Council, District 1
Dorothy Granger, for City Council, District 2
Allison Chopra, for City Council, District 3
and…
John Hamilton, for Mayor of Bloomington.
We thank all the candidates who participated in our endorsements process and our forums last week. Every contribution to the discussion is valuable, and raises the interest and engagement of our society.