Jody Madeira will be the Democratic nominee for the open District 3 seat on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. She received 43.47% of the vote.
Jody Madeira is an IU Maurer School of law professor who teaches medical, Second Amendment, family, product liability and torts law. Madeira has worked with legislatures in 11 states, including Indiana, to pass laws imposing civil and criminal penalties on perpetrators of fertility fraud. Madeira said her top priority if elected would be addressing housing in Monroe County — by revising the county’s comprehensive plan — and re-establishing the Community Justice Response Commission, which the commissioners suspended in April 2023 citing a lack of progress due to conflicting perspectives and priorities.
Madeira competed against Penny Githens and Steve Volan for the Democratic nomination.
Githens, an incumbent, has served on the board of commissioners since 2019, when the Monroe County Democratic Party selected her to fill a vacancy on the board. Before joining the board of commissioners, Githens worked in project management, faculty and research roles at IU, Vanderbilt University and Yale University. She unsuccessfully ran for the Indiana House of Representatives in 2018 and 2022. She received 33.11% of the vote.
Volan is a former member of the Bloomington City Council. He held the District 6 seat on the council from 2004 to 2023, during which time her served as the council’s president, vice president and parliamentarian. After he was re-districted out of District 6, he unsuccessfully ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2023. Volan is also the host of his own daily talk show titled “The 812,” where he interviews elected and appointed officials in city government. He received 23.41% of the vote.
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners’ responsibilities include auditing and authorizing claims against the county, maintaining county properties, supervising the maintenance of county roads and bridges and implementing solid waste management strategies. Commissioners can also appoint members to fill positions on various county boards, committees and commissions.
Madeira will represent Benton Township, Clear Creek Township, Salt Creek Township, Washington Township and parts of Perry and Polk townships.
Republicans Joe VanDeventer and Paul White Sr. are also competing for the open seat.
