DFMC A-List Candidates 2008
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Democracy For Monroe County is proud to place these candidates on our A-List of Socially Progressive and Fiscally Responsible candidates (listed in alphabetical order).
Elizabeth Cure, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, Seat 8
Website: http://www.elizabethcureforjudge.com/
Elizabeth Cure will bring a strong social services background to her position as judge, having been a teacher in the Indianapolis Public Schools, a teacher of English as a Foreign Language in Mexico, a grant writer for a homeless shelter project in Evansville, and a pro-bono attorney for Middle Way House here in Bloomington.
In explaining why she is running for Judge, Elizabeth said, "I believe that we, as a community, can do more to help people rise out of the cycle of poverty and the companion issues of violence and substance abuse."
Kevin Enright, Monroe County Surveyor
Monroe County Surveyor Kevin Enright is seeking re-election. He is certified by the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping and has served on the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors' GIS committee.
Kevin's dedication to his job was dramatically demonstrated during our March 11 Democratic Candidates forum, when he pulled out a large stack of field books which represented all the work he had done and compared it with the substantially smaller stack by that of his Republican opponent.
NOTE: You can see this demonstration in a video of the the forum (Real Player required). The demonstration occurs at approximately 28 minutes into the video
Kevin’s work with the County Plan Commission and his ability to accomplish all of the duties of his office with limited resources exemplify what DFMC means by "socially progressive and fiscally responsible."
Valeri Haughton, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, Seat 6
Website: http://valerihaughton.com/
DFMC endorsed Valeri Haughton in 2006, and we are pleased to do so once again. In her explanation of why she is running for judge she wrote in our questionnaire,
"There are too many people who have to go to court without realizing their rights and without having those rights adequately explained to them. There are too many people who feel they are unseen and/or unheard – virtually invisible - in our legal system. Those who are historically marginalized and disenfranchised (i.e. the poor, people of color, women) need to know that the judges before whom they appear will treat them fairly, with respect and honesty. I am committed to being such a judge."
Valeri's commitment to be a fair and compassionate judge is supported by her years of progressive involvement in our community; such as serving as a pro-bono attorney for CASA and the Protective Order Project, Chair of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission, member of the Monroe County Community Kitchen Board of Directors, and more.
Warren Henegar, Monroe County Council, At-large
A self-described "natural born tightwad" Warren Henegar brings "this Hoosier characteristic to managing the county's expenditures." On the other hand, Warren said in 2004 (on television no less) that he would support raising taxes, if necessary, in order to pay for such programs as the Juvenile Treatment Facility. Such courage, coupled with strong fiscal responsibility is why we have endorsed Warren.
Geoff McKim, County Council, At-Large
Website: http://www.mckimforcouncil.com/home.html
In explaining why he considers himself socially progressive, Geoff McKim wrote,
I consider myself socially progressive most fundamentally because I believe in the possibility of progress. I believe that society can actually gain ground against its perennial challenges – poverty, resource depletion, war, and prejudice – through wise use of government. To do so, government must be informed by knowledge, experience, and science.
When writing about fiscal responsibility, Geoff went beyond the usual statements about the need for ensuring that money spent is balanced by money received. He also wrote about leveraging "outside money whenever possible and appropriate," citing the new Truancy Court that the Prosecutor’s Office is developing in partnership with Judge Steven Galvin. This court will use money from a grant from the American Bar Association.
Mark Stoops, County Commissioner, District 2
Website: http://www.electmarkstoops.com/
Aside from Warren Henegar, Mark Stoops is the candidate with the most experience in county government. Formerly an 8-year member of the Monroe County Council, Mark also served as that body's president. He also has served as Council liason to numerous County departments and has also served on numerous boards and commissions.
Mark's career in Monroe County Government is notable for his ardent advocacy for progressive issues. He has been a strong proponent for sustainable growth since before anyone had even heard of that word. He has also been an outspoken opponent of the NAFTA Super Highway I-69.
This year, Mark is proposing an innovative plan to develop a single-payer health plan for Monroe County. You can read about it here.
