Bloomington Candidates on Ranked Choice Voting
All candidates for Bloomington City Council and Mayor were asked about their positions on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) through a candidate survey and at the September 11 Candidate Forum hosted by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Below is a summary of the candidates’ positions on RCV.
Mayoral Candidates
Tim Busse
Position: Supports putting RCV on the ballot for voters to decide
“I support putting the issue of Ranked Choice Voting on the ballot to be decided by Bloomington voters.”
Ryan Kulka
Position: Opposes RCV
“I’m opposed to Ranked Choice Voting. I understand the position that it does promote sportsmanship within elections. However, I don’t agree that that’s the solution as far as raising voter turnout; I think there are other, better solutions.”
City Council At-Large Candidates
Jenna Carter
Position: Strongly supports RCV
“I am supportive of Ranked Choice Voting in Bloomington. If you look at our current system with a primary and a general election, we have extremely low voter turnout in the primary election, and so a couple thousand people are really driving the outcomes of our elections. The system we have right now isn’t working well. I think RCV is a much better option. When you look at cities and states that have adopted RCV across the country, we’re seeing better outcomes, we’re seeing more diverse representation, and we’re seeing more positive campaigns … When you look at the cost of running two elections, it’s important to be thinking about how we can be more responsible with those dollars and resources we have.”
Brian “Clem” Clemens
Position: Supports putting RCV on the ballot for voters to decide
“RCV is something I need to learn more about. I can tell you that the cost of primaries in this city is significant. To carry on two elections, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort and a lot of money, so, from that perspective I do believe in RCV. I do believe there are things with RCV that need to get looked at and make sure that the value of the ranking of each of these votes and the balance of those things is fair for all.”
City Council District 1 Candidates
Dwayne Lowman (Incumbant)
Position: Supports putting RCV on the ballot for voters to decide
“While more research and public consideration should be the driver for this change in the voting process, I would see if we have consensus on the council to propose a referendum. The Bloomington voters could consider a Ranked Choice solution (where 50% +1 vote is either declared the winner or that leads to a run off of the top two candidates where that can be achieved) … I think in this case it is important that the question be placed on the ballot for voters to decide how they would like their Council to be elected. I am very open to that process.”
Al Noard
Position: Has reservations about RCV
“As of now, I would be against RCV. I’m not well versed completely how the ranked works. To me it seems like the first candidate of everybody gets thrown out, so the second most popular person is always going to be the one that gets elected even though he may not be the best candidate to be running, so as of now, I would be against it.”
City Council District 2 Candidates
Shawn Nelson (Incumbant)
Position: Supports putting RCV on the ballot for voters to decide
Quote to come
Susan “Hofmeister” Woodruff
Position: Supports putting RCV on the ballot for voters to decide
Quote to come