Democratic candidates vying for a vacant seat on the Bloomington City Council will gather Saturday to weigh in on a variety of local government topics.
The Monroe County Democratic Party is hosting a forum where candidates Courtney Daily, Jason Moore and Jenny Stevens will answer questions from precinct committee members that will select the next District 5 representative.
It starts at 2 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library Downtown branch, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.
The forum takes place a week before the caucus, which will be at 1 p.m. March 2 in the city council chambers at Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton St.
The selected candidate will fill a vacancy left by Shruti Rana, who was elected to the council last November but resigned Feb. 7 to move to Missouri with her family. Rana took office Jan. 1.
Party Chair David Henry said anyone can attend the candidate forum and submit written questions for committee members to consider.
“Because the caucus will have to select the person who will serve the remainder of Shruti Rana’s term, and the public won’t have a chance to weigh in at the ballot box, we wanted to be as transparent as possible and provide an opportunity for people to meet the potential member of the council and post questions to them in a public forum,” he said.
The caucus will give preference to questions from District 5 residents, according to Henry. District 5 is on the city’s southeast side.
The candidates
Courtney Daily
Courtney Daily (Courtesy of Courtney Daily)
Daily is the longtime former local chapter lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
In a news release, she said she would foster inclusivity, address socioeconomic disparities and ensure equitable access to essential services such as mental health support, health care and affordable housing.
“By ensuring that everyone in our community has viable access to the full range of social services and support, we can solve many of the issues that plague Bloomington,” Daily wrote to WFIU/WTIU News. “Ultimately, I’m running because I know I’m well-positioned to represent the residents of District 5.”
In her role with Moms Demand Action, Daily said she has been active in promoting community safety through connections with residents, organizations and policymakers. She said that experience would help her navigate the complexities of city governance.
Daily is one of the nine committee members who will select Rana’s replacement. She can vote for herself.
She is an associate director of admissions at the IU Kelley School of Business, according to her LinkedIn profile.
He has not said why he resigned, but in a January news release announcing his candidacy, he said he wants to continue serving the public.
“I am stepping up because I want to continue my service to the residents of the city that my family and I love,” Moore wrote. “While this would change how I serve, compared to my previous role, it is important to know that my previous experience will make me more effective for our community.
Moore said his relationships with current elected officials and experience in departmental budgeting and the legislative process — all of which he gained during his time as fire chief — work to his advantage.
Moore is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has served on several boards and commissions, including as former president of Leadership Bloomington-Monroe County.
Jenny Stevens
Jenny Stevens (Courtesy of Jenny Stevens)
Stevens ran against Rana for the District 5 seat last year. She lost to Rana in the primary, and Rana ran uncontested in the general election.
Stevens says she would prioritize affordable housing, public safety and solutions to homelessness. That includes retaining police officers and firefighters.
“At this point, I am even more enthusiastic about this opportunity due to the extensive time I spent last spring walking the neighborhoods of District 5 and learning first-hand about the unique issues and concerns of each neighborhood,” Stevens wrote in an email to WFIU/WTIU News. “This knowledge will be reflected in my representation on the city council.”
Stevens also said she would promote infrastructure developments equally friendly to drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, and closely watch and listen to constituent input on annexation and the Showers West project.
Stevens has worked for Indiana University and served on several community initiatives through the Monroe County Community School Corporation, TEDxBloomington, Girl Scouts and Leadership Bloomington-Monroe County.
