Monroe County Democrats elected Liz Bridal as county council member at large on the final ballot of a multi-round precinct caucus Saturday, the party’s vice chair announced. The caucus, convened to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Council Member Cheryl Munson, took place under rules the caucus amended at the start of the meeting.

The result came after three rounds of voting. Bridal received 25 votes in the first round, 28 in the second and 30 in the third; 30 votes met the threshold announced by the presiding officer for victory. Alana Stonebraker finished the final round with 22 votes and Matt Kaldi with 7. A clerk from the City of Bloomington was on hand to administer the oath if Bridal chooses to be sworn in immediately.

The caucus moved several procedural measures before candidate opening statements. Precinct committee members voted to limit opening statements to four minutes, and approved an amendment that allows a 30-minute question-and-answer period after two rounds of voting if no candidate receives a majority. The body later adopted the full set of caucus rules as amended.

The meeting opened with Efraht Rosser, vice chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party, calling the caucus to order and asking members to observe a moment of silence for Cheryl Munson. Rosser presided over the process and called for roll and votes; Ashley Perani served as secretary, and Nicole Bolden, clerk for the City of Bloomington, attended to administer the oath if requested.

Candidates used their opening statements and the later question period to outline priorities. Housing affordability, a planned justice center/jail and services to address homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health were recurring themes. In his opening, candidate Matt Kaldi said, “It is painfully obvious that our county has an affordability problem,” and urged county and city government and other stakeholders to work together on housing. Several candidates described the justice center as a long-term community decision that should be paired with preventive services; Scott Shackelford emphasized infrastructure resilience and grants capacity.

Voting details: the caucus announced 68 eligible voting precinct committee members and reported 59 present (noted during roll call). The precinct process eliminated candidates who received fewer than four votes after the first round; four candidates advanced to the second round and three to the final round. The caucus used paper ballots called up in groups to expedite voting. Vote-watchers were designated by candidates and permitted to observe the tallying process.

The caucus also debated whether to permit one or two additional 30-minute Q&A periods should multiple rounds fail to produce a majority. Delegates voted to divide that question and approved one 30-minute Q&A period to follow two rounds of voting; a subsequent proposal to add another time-limited Q&A round was not adopted.

Rosser closed the meeting after results were tallied and thanked precinct officers, volunteers and candidates. The caucus adjourned and participants who wished to observe the swearing-in were invited to remain for that ceremonial step.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to limit opening statements to 4 minutes: moved from the floor, seconded, passed (ayes announced). (See provenance: opening rules debate and vote.)
- Motion to divide the question on additional Q&A periods: moved and seconded, passed.
- Motion to add a 30-minute Q&A period after two rounds of voting (if no majority): adopted.
- Motion to add a second additional 30-minute Q&A after four rounds: not adopted.
- Motion to adopt caucus rules as amended: adopted.
- Election (appointment) to fill Monroe County Council at-large vacancy: Liz Bridal elected after three rounds (final tally: Bridal 30, Stonebraker 22, Kaldi 7); outcome: approved. Clerk Nicole Bolden was present to offer the oath.

What happens next: the winner may be sworn in by the city clerk present; the county council will subsequently publish the council roster and assign committee liaisons and responsibilities in accordance with council procedures.

(Reporting note: the article is based on statements and returns announced during the Monroe County Democratic Party precinct caucus; vote tallies are those the caucus secretary read aloud.)