| An update for League friends and subscribers. | | | | The primary election is coming up in May, with early voting starting in April. Check out our Elections webpage for Voting FAQs and find even more election-related info in this packed issue of the newsletter. | | | | How Safe Is Our Personal Data? | In March, Civic Conversations welcomed Nicole Bennett, associate director of Indiana University's Center for Refugee Students and a PhD student in the Department of Geography. She is researching current data collection and tracking efforts in the United States. You can find a series of her articles at The Conversation.
Bennett discussed how personal data that was once siloed is now flowing through a complex network of interagency agreements, contracts, and commercial partnerships, making our data more accessible and more vulnerable to security risks. | | | She also discussed the challenges that artificial intelligence poses to data security, including cyber threats and vulnerabilities, as well as Palantir's role in integrating disparate datasets for government and military use.
| | Meet the Candidates - Community Healthcare Conversation | On Tuesday, April 7, there will be an opportunity to meet candidates for Indiana House District 62 and US House of Representatives District 9 for a discussion on community healthcare. The event will run from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Garton Hall, 100 SR-46 West, Bloomington.
The discussion will be to update our community on the current state of healthcare and to ask our panelists how they would serve Hoosiers to remedy cuts to Medicaid; loss of subsidies for Hoosiers in the Health Insurance Marketplace; healthcare for the uninsured; hospital closures in Indiana, etc.
Candidates confirmed are Jim Graham, Brad Meyer, Dr. Tim Peck, Floyd Taylor, and Keil Roark. Current office holder Rep. Erin Houchin has declined.
Moderator Dr. Mark Bauman is a retired pathologist and clinical associate professor (emeritus) at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He taught pathology to medical students and healthcare policy to undergraduates at IU Bloomington for many years.
This event is cosponsored by Medicare for All Indiana – Bloomington, League of Women Voters Bloomington-Monroe County, Monroe County Branch NAACP, League of Women Voters Brown County, Brown Countians for Quality Healthcare, The Rural Summit, and Organizing Indiana.- Karen Green Stone
| | Save the Date for the Annual Meeting and Gathering, May 12 | The LWV-BMC annual meeting is our major assembly for the year. This is your opportunity to meet local League members and hear about all the work we are doing. We will update you on the past year’s events, elect new officers and Leadership Team members, and hear from a speaker. As with all our meetings and gatherings, there will be light snacks and drinks. The meeting will take place at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 E. Third St., Bloomington, on Tuesday, May 12, from 6:00-7:30 pm. - Nancy Riggert
The Nominating Committee has successfully recruited all needed members for the Leadership Team. Members of the Nominating Committee include Annamaria Mecca and Regina Moore, co-chairs, Alec Blake, Nancey Riggert, and Carolyn Waldron, ex officio. At the annual meeting we will vote on the new Leadership Team members. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. - Annamaria Mecca | | Voters Hear from Candidates for Indiana House and County Commission |  | | Pearl Vinard moderated the Indiana representative forum with candidates Matt Pierce and Lilliana Young. |  | | Steve Hinnefeld moderated the county commission forum with candidates Trent Deckard and David G. Henry. | | |
The Tri-North Middle School Presentation Center provided a welcoming venue for two candidate forums on March 23. First were Matt Pierce and Lilliana Young, running for the Democratic nomination to the Indiana House of Representatives for District 61. Pearl Vinard of the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County moderated the forum. Topics included candidates’ legislative priorities, protection of LGBT Hoosiers, increasing voter participation, and housing affordability.
The second forum featured Democrats vying for the County Commissioner District 1 nomination. Trent Deckard and David G. Henry discussed how the commissioners and County Council can work together more effectively, next steps for a new jail, affordable housing, and vote centers. Steve Hinnefeld of the Limestone Post moderated the forum.
Sponsors for both forums included League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Kappa Tau Omega Chapter, Big Ten Voting Challenge, IU PACE, Monroe County NOW, Monroe County Branch NAACP, and South Central Indiana Citizens’ Climate Lobby. The CATS recording is linked from the LWV-BMC Candidate Forums page (http://lwv-bmc.org/candidate-forums). - Ralf Shaw | | Candidates for County Clerk and Prosecutor Answer Questions |  | | Dale Branham, Joe Davis, and Tree Martin Lucas participated in the forum for county clerk. |  | | Ilana Stonebraker moderated the forum for county prosecutor. Candidates Benjamin Arrington and Erika Oliphant responded to questions. | | |
Tanner Dale Branham, Joe Davis, and Tree Martin Lucas, the three Democratic candidates for Monroe County Clerk of Courts, took questions from around 60 members of the public on March 30. Republican candidate Julie M. Hays did not respond to the League’s invitation to participate. Ilana Stonebraker, business/SPEA librarian, Indiana University, moderated the forum, which was held at Tri-North Middle School. Topics addressed included management experience and philosophy, vote centers, early scanning of ballots from early voting, and increasing voter registration and turn-out.
The second forum that evening, also moderated by Stonebraker, featured candidates for county prosecutor. There are no Republican candidates for this office on the primary election ballot. The two Democrats on the ballot, Benjamin T. Arrington and Erika Oliphant, responded to questions. Topics addressed included management style and approach to the office, use of special prosecutors, pretrial diversion, protection for victims of domestic violence, and the high tech crime unit.
Forum cosponsors were League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Kappa Tau Omega Chapter, Big Ten Voting Challenge, IU PACE, Monroe County NOW, Monroe County Branch NAACP, and South Central Indiana Citizens’ Climate Lobby. The CATS recording of the meeting will be linked from the LWV-BMC Candidate Forums page (https://lwv-bmc.org/candidate-forums). – Ralf Shaw | | Forum Scheduled for U.S. House for District 9 on April 11 | The LWVs of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Southern Indiana are hosting a forum for candidates running for U.S. House of Representatives, District 9. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, from 10:00 to 11:30 am. This is an online Zoom event. Confirmed participants include Jim Graham, Brad Meyer, and Keil Roark. Moderator will be Sonia Leerkamp, vice president, LWV of Brown County.
Cosponsors include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Kappa Tau Omega Chapter, Indiana University PACE, Monroe County Branch NAACP, Monroe County NOW, and South Central Indiana Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Registration is required. Click here to register and receive the Zoom link. Questions? Contact voterservice@lwv-bmc.org. - Ralf Shaw | | League Cosponsor of CSIU Candidate Forum on April 14 | With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Concerned Scientists @ IU is pleased to announce the 2026 CSIU Candidate Forum on Science, Technology, and the Environment, which will take place on Tuesday, April 14, from 5:15 - 6:45 pm at the main auditorium at the downtown branch of the Monroe County Public Library.
The forum, which is one of the nation’s only candidate forums with a focus on science-related policy, will feature five of the six candidates registered for the election for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District: Jim Graham (D), Brad Meyer (D), Tim Peck (D), Keil Roark (D), and Floyd Taylor (I). Incumbent Representative Erin Houchin (R) was invited, but is unable to attend. The event is free and open to the public.
| | | The forum is cosponsored by CSIU’s student affiliate organization, Advocates for Science @IU, the League of Women Voters of Bloomington/Monroe County, Citizens' Climate Lobby of South Central Indiana, and the Green Sanctuary Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. Note that the primary election concludes on May 5, with early voting starting on April 7.
For those unable to participate in person, the forum will also be live streamed at the ASIU YouTube channel. For additional information, contact us at csatiub@gmail.com. Please share with friends, neighbors and colleagues! - Emma Broach, Advocates for Science @IU | | March 7 Legislative Update and Priorities for 2027 | Our League and those for Johnson and Brown (also serving Bartholomew) counties invited legislators representing all four counties at the Statehouse to the concluding legislative update for 2026. Senator Shelli Yoder and Representative Matt Pierce attended and spoke to some 42 people. Representative Pierce described it as the “most challenging” legislative session in his 24 years in the legislature. He and Senator Yoder outlined the accomplishments for the session and suggested areas still in need of attention. At the conclusion of the presentations, audience members ranked the importance they would attach to the 14 topics discussed, which is shown in the table below.
The CATS recording of the meeting is linked from the LWV-BMC website. We expect to hold a virtual town hall in late 2026 to discuss priorities for the 2027 legislative session. – Ralf Shaw | | Where Do We Vote Early in Monroe County? |  | | Main entrance to early voting and parking lot that will be available. |  | | Door to enter for early voting, which is in Suite 101. | | |
Election Central and early voting are now located at 501 N. Morton Street in Bloomington. This is the north end of the Showers Building. City government is at the south end of the building. The photo on the left above shows the main entrance to early voting and the parking lot that will be available. The photo on the right above shows the door to enter for early voting, which is in Suite 101. Start down the side of the building facing Morton, and it will be the first door you encounter.
Early Voting Schedule
Weekdays Tuesday April 7 - Friday May 1, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturdays April 25 and May 2, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Monday May 4, 8:00 am - noon
Remember – go to 501 N. Morton, not the old NAPA building! - Ralf Shaw | | Keeping Up with Candidate Forums | | Candidate forums before an election always present moving targets. We will try to keep up with them on our candidate forums page. Please check there for updates. - Ralf Shaw | | League Members Talk to Voters at No Kings Rally | | Bloomington’s third No Kings Rally was held March 28 on the Courthouse Square. Our League tabled for voter education and registration. Members Becky Brass, Benna Tate, Monica Clemons, Nancy Riggert, and Ralf Shaw enjoyed helping voters check their registration and talking with them about early voting and elections in general. The LWV “VOTE” and “Defend Democracy” buttons were popular, as were the LWV-BMC t-shirts. - Ralf Shaw | | Your Community Needs You! Be a Poll Worker! | According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, “Poll workers are essential to ensure elections are a success. During each election, millions of Americans dedicate themselves to sustaining the backbone of democracy - our election process.” You can be part of Monroe County’s backbone by working at the polls during early voting and/or on Election Day.
Poll workers are required to attend a training session before each election. Instruction covers basic tasks such as checking voter ID and operating the e-poll book, ballot printer (for early voting), or ballot scanner (Election Day). Poll workers are paid $20 per hour for early voting and $150 for the day for Election Day, plus $30 for attending the training session.
To assure bipartisan teams at the polls, workers are recruited by party. Find the contact information for your party here. As of this writing, recruiters for early voting have not been named. - Ralf Shaw | | Regional Housing Summit in April: Unlocking Solutions | Heading Home is hosting a daylong Regional Housing Summit "Unlocking Solutions" on Tuesday, April 14 at the Monroe Convention Center in Bloomington. This conference brings together residents, developers, landlords, people with lived experience, businesses, and government and community leaders to explore practical solutions to the housing crisis in South Central Indiana. The conference will take place Tuesday, April 14, from 8 am to 5 pm at the Monroe Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. in Bloomington. Register here.
The summit will convene for a day of collaboration focused on strengthening housing stability across the region. Participants will explore actionable strategies to increase the supply of accessible housing, respond to the needs of vulnerable populations, and advance community-driven approaches to housing challenges.
“The housing crisis in our region affects individuals, families, employers, and the overall health of our communities,” said Mary Morgan, Executive Director of Heading Home of South Central Indiana. “This summit is about bringing people together across sectors to share ideas, learn from each other, and build practical solutions that expand housing opportunities and strengthen stability for everyone in South Central Indiana.”
The day will feature interactive sessions, hands-on learning opportunities, and collaboration among participants working across the housing system in South Central Indiana. Attendees will leave energized, better connected, and equipped with actionable ideas to support housing stability in their communities.
The summit will feature a keynote presentation by Vu Le, an internationally recognized speaker, writer and nonprofit leader. Known for his sharp insights, humor, and candid perspective, Le speaks widely on collective impact, collaboration, organizational culture, and the myths that often hold organizations back. - Mary Morgan
| | Help Support Young Girls at Girls Inc Fundraiser | League members and subscribers are invited to Girls Inc's upcoming fundraiser, the Champions For Girls Luncheon. This luncheon will take place on Thursday, April 30 from 11 am-1 pm at the FAR Contemporary Arts Center, 202 S Rogers St, Bloomington. There will be lunch from Social Cantina, an awards ceremony, wonderful speakers, and a basket auction. Individual tickets are still available for purchase on the Girls Inc website. Please join us! - Alec Blake
Girls Inc. of Monroe County started as the Girls Club of Monroe County in 1974 and incorporated as Girls Inc. of Monroe County in 1991. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and look toward a future where girls and women are empowered and part of an equitable society.
In 2023, the center began partnering with local Monroe County schools to provide educational and self-esteem-building school-based programs and has been doing so ever since. | | | |
Proofreader: Kristina Lindborg
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