In preparation for Election Day on Nov. 8, the Indiana Daily Student reached out to 30 candidates running for Bloomington, Monroe County or executive state of Indiana office to allow them to introduce themselves to voters.
Out of those 30 candidates, 13 responded to our outreach. Information for those who did not was compiled from official or candidate-affiliated sources. Responses were edited for length, clarity and style.
Jump ahead to...
- Secretary of State
- State Auditor
- Treasurer of State
- Bloomington Township Trustee
- Bloomington Township Board Member
- Monroe County Council
- District 1
- District 2
- District 3
- District 4
- Monroe County Commissioner, District 1
- Monroe County Sheriff
- Monroe County Recorder
- Monroe County Assessor
- Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk
- Judge of the Monroe Circuit Court
- 10th Judicial Circuit, No. 1
- 10th Judicial Circuit, No. 4
- 10th Judicial Circuit, No. 7
- Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County, 10th Judician Circuit
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Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the third-highest ranking official in state government and has existed since the Indiana Constitution was written. Duties have historically included maintenance of state records and preservation of the state seal, but have expanded to include business chartering, regulation of the securities industry and oversight of state elections, according to the SOS’s website.
democrat
-
Priorities:
Free and Fair Elections
National Security
Small Business
Current position: Deputy Chair for Coalitions and Expansion, Indiana Democratic Party
republican
-
Priorities:
Election Integrity
Voter Registration
Business Opportunity
Strengthening Divisions
Current position: Entrepreneur
libertarian
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Priorities:
Voting Verification
Election Worker Training
Increasing Audits
Small Business
Supporting Entrepreneurship
Fighting Inflation
More ↓
Current position: Development officer, Students for Liberty
State Auditor
The Auditor of State’s office is responsible for the Indiana state government’s accounting. The Auditor him or herself is responsible for accounting for all state funds, overseeing and disbursing tax distributions, paying state bills and employees and administering Indiana’s Deferred Compensation Plan, according to the Auditor’s website.
democrat
-
Priorities:
Oversight and Transparency
Small Business
Supporting Minority Communities
Economic Development
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Faith-Based Advocacy
More ↓
Current position: Chief Strategy Officer, Mind Your Business Accounting and Consulting
republican
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Priorities:
Accuracy
Transparency
Customer Service
Reducing Fraud Opportunity
Current position: Auditor of State
libertarian
Current position: Principal Consultant, Information Sales Group
John Schick is the Libertarian candidate for Auditor of State. He’s previously run for the position and lost in 2014 and 2018, according to Ballotpedia. Schick also ran unsuccessfully as the Libertarian candidate for Indiana House of Representatives District 3 in 2010.
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Treasurer of State
The Treasurer of State is one of five constitutional offices and is the fifth-highest ranking statewide government official. The Treasurer serves as trustee for the Indiana State Police Pension Trust, chair of the Indiana Education Savings Authority and manager for local government investment pool TrustINdiana, according to the Treasurer’s website.
republican
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Priorities:
Economic Development
Broadband Access
Cybersecurity
Transparency
Financial Education
Current position: Morgan County Council, At-Large
democrat
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Priorities:
Cybersecurity
Liquidity
Fund Safety
Invest in College Savings
Serving Unbanked
Local Government Outreach
Retirement Investment
More ↓
Current position: Monroe County Treasurer
Bloomington Township Trustee
The Bloomington Township Trustee is the executive branch of the Bloomington township and is responsible for managing township property, receiving and paying out township funds, administering assistance and filing annual financial and personnel reports, among others.
democrat
Current position: Executive Director, United Way of Monroe County
Efrat is a 22-year resident of Monroe County. She completed her undergraduate studies at IU and received a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Arizona. She said her career has been centered around local government, nonprofits and giving back to the community. She spent nine years at City of Bloomington Utilities and has spent the past five years as executive director of United Way of Monroe County.
As Township Trustee, Feferman said she looks forward to continuing to work on our community’s safety net and will strive to be responsive, collaborative, and effective in administering assistance to Bloomington Township residents.
Bloomington Township Board Member
The Township Board is the legislative body of the Bloomington Township. Township Board members approve the township budget, tax rate, Trustee report, appropriations and borrowing of money, according to the Benton Township Trustee’s website. Board members also advise the Township Trustee on general matters.
democrat
Current position: Bloomington Township Board Member
Running for reelection as a Bloomington Township Board Member, Monroe County, Dorothy Granger also currently works as the development director for Beacon, Inc., according to her LinkedIn. She formerly served as city council president and representative for Bloomington City Council District 2.
According to the City of Bloomington’s website, Granger is active around issues of citizen participation and social justice.
democrat
Current position: Human Rights Director/Attorney, City of Bloomington
Barbara McKinney is running for a position as Bloomington Township Board Member, Monroe County. She ran unsuccessfully for the position in 2018 and has previously worked as assistant city attorney and director of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission, according to the Herald-Times.
In 2018, McKinney was recognized with the Indiana Municipal ADA/Title VI Coordinator of the Year for her work helping Bloomington’s disabled community, according to Bloom Magazine. The article states McKinney worked with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to help businesses work towards accessibility and created a registry for emergency responders to provide information about disabled and special needs people.
democrat
Current position: Chief Deputy Treasurer
Elizabeth Sensenstein is running to become a Bloomington Township Board Member. Sensenstein has previously served Monroe County as its chief deputy treasurer and assessor, according to LinkedIn.
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Monroe County Council
The County Council approves and appropriates funding, adopts the county budget and sets tax rates, according to E.thePeople’s voter guide.
District 1
republican
Current position: Retired, formerly firefighter for Bloomington Township Fire Department
Jim Allen is running as a Republican for Monroe County Council, District 1. He worked as a Bloomington Township firefighter and retired as a lieutenant in 2017 after over 20 years of service, according to the Monroe County GOP’s website. Allen ran for a County Council at-large seat in 2020 and lost.
As a County Council member, Allen said he would prioritize public safety and increase the sheriff’s department’s budget, according to his website. He is against forced annexation and salary increases for elected officials and supports reopening council meetings to a Zoom and in-person mix. He is also anti-abortion.
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Council, District 1
Peter Iversen is running to maintain a seat on the Monroe County Council, where he has served District 1 for the past three years. He received a master’s degree in public affairs from the IU O’Neill School, and he and his wife are raising their two daughters in Bloomington.
The three key challenges he said can be addressed by the Monroe County Council are lack of diversity, equity and inclusion, insufficient investment in fighting climate change and resiliency and continuing to invest in meaningful ways in public health.
District 2
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Council, District 2
Kate Wiltz is a Democrat running unopposed for Monroe County Council, District 2. She is the incumbent and works with IU’s Indiana Institute on Disability and Community as a research associate, according to the IIDC’s website.
Wiltz said she's passionate about amplifying marginalized voices and that the best way to do so is to meet people where they are to provide them support, according to a personal statement on the IIDC’s website.
District 3
republican
Current position: Monroe County Council, District 3
Marty Hawk is running unopposed as the Republican candidate for Monroe County Council, District 3. She’s the current incumbent and works as a real estate broker.
District 4
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Council, District 4
Jennifer Crossley is running unopposed for Monroe County Council, District 4. She’s an incumbent and became the first Black woman to serve as a Monroe County Council member after being appointed to the position Dec. 19, 2021, according to a past IDS article. She’s a Democrat and served as chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party for the two years prior to County Council.
According to Hoosier Women Forward, Crossley volunteers at the Shalom Center and is part of the Bloomington chapter of Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence, the Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus and the Bloomington chapter of the NAACP, among others.
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Monroe County Commissioner, District 1
The Board of Commissioners has a wide range of authority. According to the Monroe County government’s website, their powers include auditing and authorizing claims against the county, maintaining and supervising county property, supervising construction and maintenance of county infrastructure and exercising appointive powers, among others. Departments directly under the commissioner’s authority include the Building Department, the Legal Department, the Monroe County Highway Department and the Veterans’ Affairs Department.
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Commissioner
Elizabeth (Lee) Jones is the incumbent County Commissioner for District 1. Before becoming commissioner, she said she served on the County Council for six years. She was also on the Plan Commission for 10 years and the Board of Zoning Appeals for four years, among other positions. She said she knows about county government and how to get things done.
Jones grew up in Bloomington, attending local schools and IU. When she got married, Jones and her husband moved to the western part of the county and founded Stranger’s Hill Farm & Greenhouses, which is now the oldest certified organic business in Indiana.
republican
Current position: Electrician
Perry Robinson is running as a Republican for Monroe County Commissioner. He’s worked as a union electrician for over 20 years, according to his campaign website. In that job, has served as general foreman, which he said would prepare him to oversee infrastructure, zoning and the county health department as commissioner.
Robinson’s platform focuses on transparency in tax dollar spending, representation for rural Monroe County and finding long-term, cost-efficient solutions to county problems.
Monroe County Sheriff
The Sheriff is responsible for providing law enforcement and correctional services to Monroe County. They ensure courts function safely and securely, which includes inmate transportation, criminal record maintenance and fugitive apprehension, according to the Monroe County government’s website. The Sheriff’s office also shares resources with a variety of different law enforcement and community groups.
democrat
-
Priorities:
Public Safety
Transparency and Accountability
Social Service Involvement
Recidivism Reduction
Crisis Intervention Training
Public Outreach
More ↓
Current position: Captain, Indiana State Police
republican
-
Priorities:
Public Safety
Mental Health Awareness
Recidivism Reduction
Diversity and Inclusion
Community Engagement
Transparency
More ↓
Current position: Patrol Sergeant, Sheriff’s Office Field Training Coordinator
Monroe County Recorder
The first local office created by the Indiana Constitution, the Recorder is responsible for processing and recording documents submitted for record and for maintaining those records, according to the Monroe County Government’s website.
democrat
Current position: Indian Creek Township Clerk
Amy Swain is an IU graduate with a degree in business who said she chose to have a positive impact in Monroe County by running for office. She was twice elected and served eight years on the Indian Creek Township Board.
Swain said she’s running for recorder because the accurate legal recording of property documents is important in all real estate transactions, whether residential or commercial. She said her priorities are accessibility, professionalism and a smooth transition.
republican
Current position: Bus driver
Paul White is running as a Republican for Monroe County Recorder. He currently works as a bus driver, according to his LinkedIn.
Monroe County Assessor
The Monroe County Assessor maintains property records, consisting of property characteristics and the property’s assessed value, for all townships, according to the Monroe County government’s website. The office also maintains property sales information.
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Commissioner
Judith Sharp, current Monroe County Assessor, has been the county assessor since 1991. She is responsible for placing a market value on all properties for taxation and does this each year based on property sold. She said the department has around 58,000 parcels of land that it touches each year, and its gross assessment is over $15 billion.
The county assessor must own property in the county and must be a State Certified Level III Assessor/Appraiser, which is a state certification that is comparable to an advanced degree in a profession. Sharp stated she is not term limited, meaning there are no limits on how long she can hold the position.
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Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk prepares, records and maintains court documents for Circuit Court judges. The Clerk’s office also manages the court’s docket and traffic court, according to the Monroe County government’s website.
democrat
Nicole Browne is running for re-election as Monroe County Clerk. She said her priorities are to continue fighting for “common sense” legislation for all 92 Indiana clerks, “set the table” for her successor and showcase Monroe County as Indiana’s gold standard for quality elections in the state.
She’s not afraid to look Monroe County commissioners and council members in the eye and fight for the needs of the office, she said. She said she’s running to make a difference.
Judge of the Monroe Circuit Court
The Monroe Circuit Court has jurisdiction over every category of case that can be filed, from traffic violations and small claims to felonies, according to the Monroe County government’s website. The court is unified with nine divisions.
10th Judicial Circuit, No. 1
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, Division 6
Holly Harvey is a Democrat running unopposed for Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, No. 1. Harvey now serves as a circuit court judge, Division 6, according to the Circuit Court’s website.
10th Judicial Circuit, No. 4
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, Division 5
Mary Ellen Diekhoff is on the ballot for Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, No. 4. Diekhoff currently serves as a circuit court judge for District 5 and works as an adjunct instructor in criminal justice at IU, according to the department’s website. Diekhoff previously served as a deputy prosecutor for Monroe County.
10th Judicial Circuit, No. 7
democrat
Current position: Attorney, Salzmann Law
Emily Salzmann is the Democratic candidate for Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, No. 7. Emily has recent judicial experience, having served as judge pro tempore 47 times. She has been a part of the local court system since 2012 and is managing partner at Salzmann Law, LLC. Emily brings not only her years of civil and criminal practice but also her fluency in Spanish to the courtroom, she said. She has served as president of the local bar association.
republican
Current position: Attorney, Carl Lamb and Associates
Carl Lamb has been in Monroe County for the past 44 years after four years in the Marine Corps and is married to wife Angie. He’s a graduate of Indiana University, B.A., 1981, and J.D., 1984. Lamb said he has 38 years of trial law experience in criminal, civil and juvenile law. He’s worked with the IU community over the years to host multiple internship opportunities to create and promote “Drop the Puck on Cancer,” a Greek philanthropy event at IU.
Lamb is the former Monroe County attorney, and said his family attends Westside Community Church. He said he brings a wealth of experience from all walks of life in his pursuit of Monroe County Circuit Court Judge.
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Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County, 10th Judicial Circuit
The Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney represents the state of Indiana in criminal cases. The office receives reports from law enforcement agencies and files criminal charges if necessary. The Prosecuting Attorney also works with law enforcement to encourage crime prevention and public safety education, according to the Prosecuting Attorney’s website.
democrat
Current position: Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney
Erika Oliphant is running for her second term as Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County. According to her campaign website, she’s served for over 12 years in Monroe County and attended Maurer School of Law. She is currently running unopposed.
According to her website, Oliphant supports alternatives to incarceration, such as risk-based treatment programs and alternative sentencing, when possible, and she believes incarceration should be reserved for offenders who pose security threats. She also said she intends to focus on violent crime prevention.
Christina Avery, Natalie Fitzgibbons, Marissa Meador and Emma Uber contributed reporting.
Methodology
Each candidates' top priorities were compiled from campaign websites and campaign social media accounts.
Priorities were worded to best fit a variety of candidate positions. The IDS has provided links to candidate campaign websites or social media pages, where more specific information on individual candidates' positions can be found.
Priorities were listed for candidates for state office and sheriff, as these elections are highly contested. Candidates who fit this description without priorities listed did not have priority information available.
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coverage
By Nadia Scharf
Nadia has worked at the IDS since 2021 as a reporter, arts desk editor and managing editor. Email Twitter
Design and development by Carson TerBush
Carson is senior studying journalism and informatics who has worked at the IDS since 2019 as a reporter and designer. This semester she is the managing editor of digital. Email Twitter
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