Top priorities for our community are building and operating a new Justice Center that provides the statutorily required Jail, related justice system departments, plus facilities for treating people with mental health and substance abuse disorders before they enter the justice system. The Council’s role is primarily fiscal but cost considerations will lead to choices at many decision points along the way.

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Another major project that the Council has long been involved in is the expansion of our Convention Center. I supported the City’s request to pass a Food & Beverage Tax because the funds the tax brought in for the city would cover most of the expansion’s cost, the County would provide land, and the City would cover additional costs. The project stalled after a period of disagreement between the City and County, but it is at last advancing. As chair of the Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Committee I will continue to keep the public informed not only about revenue and expenditures, but -- at last -- about progress on this long awaited project. As your County Councilor, I will use my compassion, knowledge, and experience to:

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Attend to fiscal responsibilities. Setting County budgets is an exercise in understanding community values and setting priorities. We must be responsible about tax rates, debts, spending, and our changing climate. Elected officials must work collaboratively with staff to fairly compensate county employees and restructure services for greater efficiency and sustainability.

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Preserve our valuable resources. We must strive to ensure that the natural, cultural, and governmental resources that our residents and businesses value and depend upon - and that make our county the best in the state - are protected. This includes Lake Monroe, a significant economic asset that provides our drinking water, recreation, and much more.

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Build resilience. Our County should plan for current needs and future changes in a way that is sensible and manageable, so that the community qualities we treasure will endure. This means expanding affordable housing, decreasing food insecurity, improving our justice and mental health systems, mitigating increasing temperatures and rainfall, and growing transportation connectivity.

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I pledge to continue to work collaboratively on the Council to help shape our county's future and to keep the concerns of county residents at the forefront.

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Experience Counts. I have 28 years of local government experience in elected positions: 12 years of service on the Monroe County Council, including 2 as Council President, and previously 16 years in Township government. My community work before I was elected to the Council prepared me well for the job (see: About Cheryl). While serving on the Council, my work for the county and in not-for-profit organizations has given me broad knowledge of our community's assets and needs.

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My past and continuing service includes:

• Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Commission; 4 years as Chair

• Convention and Visitors' Commission

• County Solid Waste Management District Board, 9 years as Chair/Vice Chair

• Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee

• Sophia Travis Community Services Grants Committee, 11 years as Chair

• Steering Committee for the Convention Center Expansion

• Community Corrections Advisory Board

• Lake Monroe Watershed Management Steering Committee

• Lake Monroe Water Fund Steering Committee

• Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee (Transportation)

• Ambulance Advisory Board

• County Emergency Management Board

• Council liaison to the Sheriff's Department, County Jail, Health Department, Auditor's Office, Treasurer's Office, Recorder's Office, Probation Department, County Fair Board, Emergency Dispatch, Youth Services Bureau, and County Courts.

 

As an active member of our community, I also serve on the Board of Directors for:

• Indian Creek Community Association

• Friends of Lake Monroe

• Monroe County History Center

 

2024 is a momentous election year for government at all levels. Here at home, I hope you'll support me with your vote for County Council, At-Large. If you have questions about County government or my goals, I would be glad to talk with you. I'm just an email or phone call away.

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Check your Voting Registration and Find your Polling Site Here:
https://indianavoters.in.gov/




CherylMunson2012@gmail.com
(812) 325-3407
Cheryl Munson for Council
6707 W. Rock East Road Bloomington, IN 47403

(Campaign Committee: Lee Jones, Chair; Christina Courtright, Treasurer; Jennifer Borland; Neil Goswami; Susan Hingle; Jeff Holland; Iris Kiesling; Sherry Mitchell-Bruker; Dee Owens; Meri Reinhold; Jim Sims; Will Smith; Vicky Sorensen; Phil Stafford; Ilana Stonebraker; Amy Swain; Carol Wilson; Kate Wiltz; Charlotte Zietlow)