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The following is a press release written by Ilana Stonebraker for The Monroe County Democratic Party . Members of the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee, and our Democratic Friends: |
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Ilana Stonebraker has filed candidacy paperwork and provided a statement in support of her candidacy to fill the office of Monroe County Councilperson at-Large. Eligible Precinct Committeepersons will gather at the Nat U. Hill Room of the Monroe County Courthouse on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 1PM to vote in caucus to appoint pro tempore a candidate for this vacancy. MCDP will only share statements by those candidates who have filed their paperwork with the Party Secretary. For more information, visit https://www.monroedems.org/vacancy-caucus-mccal — My name is Ilana Stonebraker and I am seeking the at-large seat vacated by Cheryl Munson's passing. I previously served on the Tippecanoe County Council, representing District 1 (Lafayette). Along with Lisa Dullum, we were the first democrats elected to Tippecanoe County Council in 23 years, a success I in part attribute to my having knocked over 2000 doors. Cheryl was the first person I ever met in politics here in Bloomington. Before we started serving in Tippecanoe, Lisa Dullum and I had lunch with Cheryl Munson and Shelli Yoder, both on County Council at the time, to see what it looks like to have a Democratic-controlled county council. It was exhilarating! Cheryl had encouraged me to run several times. I asked her if she would support me if I ran and I remember her saying “Of COURSE, Ilana!” as if it was the easiest decision in the world to support another woman running for office, and that is something I will always take with me: that no-brainer approach to supporting others. I am running to honor her memory. I moved to Bloomington in January 2020. Since then, I have given birth to two beautiful children, Frank (3 and a half) and Simon (10 months) which has committed me to the importance of making local government work for everyone here in Monroe County, especially families. I’ve kept busy in the community volunteering for many local political groups and nonprofits. For the last year, I have been chair of the Monroe County Vote Center Study Committee, a committee of the Monroe County Election Board. VCSC has been focused on bringing vote center reform to Monroe County. For the last three years, I have served on the Development/Fundraising committee for Beacon Inc, one of our local homelessness shelters and housing solutions. I served on the board of Monroe County NOW Board from 2023-2024 as Director of Fundraising. I served on the steering committee of the Democratic Women’s Caucus 2020-22, where I have served as Chair of Nominations and in fundraising roles. I served as co-chair of Ashley Pirani’s campaign for school board. I made over 1800 calls for local candidates in the 2020 election, including Shelli Yoder and Alyssa Bailey, as well as did literature drops for April Hennessey. I have also served as a volunteer coordinator for the People’s Market in 2020. While on Council in Tippecanoe, I served as the liaison to the sheriff, coroner, and the county health department. Some accomplishments I had on council were convincing the council and election board to livestream their meetings, making a visualization of the county budget, and working with the county commissioner to light the courthouse Red for Education. My day job is the head librarian for the O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs and the Kelley School of Business. I also act as the department head overseeing the Science & Social Science librarians. As part of my job, I help researchers locate consequential data for their research questions, often in finance, policy, and economics. These questions often overlap with the questions the County Council is also asked: what are the demographics of our county and how are they changing? How do market fluctuations locally and nationally affect our investments in our community? My approach, both on council in Lafayette and here will be the same: how we spend money should express the needs and the values of this community. Cheryl leaves big shoes to fill, but I am committed to making Monroe County inclusive, efficient, and welcoming for all. |
PRESS RELEASE: Members of the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee, and our Democratic Friends
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