Voters choose Democrats Munson, Deckard, Henry in county council primary

Bloomington, Indiana – The Democratic candidates for the three at-large seats on the Monroe County Council, Cheryl Munson, Trent Deckard, and David Henry, were chosen by voters.

Deckard took home 28.5% of the vote, Henry 21.81%, and Munson 28.91%.

Munson is an incumbent who has been on the county council for three terms. She presided over the council for two years. Munson was a research scientist for the IU Department of Anthropology and a 16-year member of the Indian Creek Township Board of Trustees before entering county office. Building a new justice center and enlarging the Monroe County Convention Center are the two main projects Munson wants the county to finish, she told the Indiana Daily Student in February, explaining why she is running for reelection.

Another incumbent who has been on the council since 2019 is Trent Deckard. He is the president of the council at the moment. Prior to joining the council, he held the position of chief of staff for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus from 2015 to 2017 and head of the Monroe County Democratic Party from 2013 to 2015. In addition, he teaches at the Kelley School of Business. Addressing homelessness and affordability in Monroe County will be Deckard’s main goals if re-elected, he said the Indiana Daily Student in February.

The Democratic Party of Monroe County is led by David Henry. His tenure ends in January 2025, which is approximately the time he would assume office if elected to the county council. He has held this position since January 2021. The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs adjunct professor Henry has held a number of county government posts, most notably president of the Monroe County Election Board. Henry expressed his desire for the county government to complete more projects, such as the construction of a new jail and the enlargement of the Monroe County Convention Center.

Additionally, Matt Caldie, a fourth Democratic contender, faced competition from the three nominees for the nominations. With 20.78% of the vote, Caldie won.

In addition to working as a customer support representative for IU Parking Operations, Matt Caldie is a member of the Bloomington Environmental Commission. In February 2023, he withdrew from his earlier race for the Bloomington City Council District 5 seat in favor of Shruti Rana, who was elected to the post in November 2023. One of Caldie’s main goals, according to the Indiana Daily Student, is to give residents a voice “who the economy isn’t working for.” He listed affordable housing as one of his top concerns.

The county’s annual budget must be approved by the Monroe County Council, which also sets tax rates to generate revenue for the budget’s needs. The council also approves all Monroe County office salaries and job descriptions, as well as the county’s spending.

To compete for the available seats, no Republican candidates submitted declarations of candidacy. Even though he wasn’t listed on the Tuesday primary ballot, Joe Davis, the 2023 Bloomington mayoral candidate, also stated his intention to run as an independent for a council seat. Davis has until July 15 to submit his statement of candidacy.