Cheryl Munson: Helping Build a Strong Foundation for Monroe County

Statement of Candidacy

When announcing her candidacy as a Democrat for the Monroe County Council, District 2, Cheryl Munson said, "As a longtime public servant, I will bring years of experience to the Council, as well as a record of standing up for good government."

Munson will focus on ensuring transparency in government by meeting with constituents to keep them informed and by being accessible to citizens. Munson stated that "good governance starts with an open door; for over 15 years, my work in local government as an elected Township Board member and a County Board member has been characterized by listening to residents and acting openly on their behalf."

Team-building for results is a hallmark of Munson's leadership style; she advocates for citizens at the Statehouse and the Federal government and will bring this effort to her work on the Council, especially as the State Legislature contemplates further cuts in local budgets. "Working with other entities, both rural and urban and everything in between, will allow the County to maximize its resources in these tough economic times," Munson noted. "We must be prepared for the unknown–whether state-imposed budget caps, disruptions that construction of I-69 would bring, or the increased need for public services due to unemployment. By working collaboratively with others, we will be ready for whatever lies ahead," she stated.

"Our young people are the future. We must support our Monroe County youth as they mature into citizens, ready to serve as we have served," stated Munson. "Enhancing youth programs and services will strengthen families and reduce the rate of delinquency," she said. "Improved quality of life for everyone is the ultimate goal of good government, and young people must be provided every opportunity to succeed."

In 1973, Munson received "a wakeup call, when the county was going to close our daughter's rural school. I knew then that I had to get involved, that the responsibilities of citizenship include working to make my community a better place to live."

According to Munson, her many years of experience making tough decisions in her work with government budgets will serve her well as a councilor. "Fighting for the people is part and parcel of caring about our community; budgeting wisely ensures the future of this place we call home. We must work diligently to fund essential services to protect the public while not losing sight of the constraints placed upon us by other levels of government," she noted. Munson believes that standing up for good government includes fiscal responsibility. "At the county level, the difficult decisions on budgets for all government services are made by the County Council."

"Budgeting is more than setting rates. It is realistically providing services at a level we can and must afford. I have decades of professional experience planning and managing grant and contract budgets, collecting and analyzing data, and sticking to budgets. My work in township governance and with other citizens demonstrates my ability to make wise decisions about services, as well as my commitment to keeping tax rates low," said Munson.

Cheryl Munson is active locally as a member of the County Plan Review Committee and has served as an elected member of the Indian Creek Township Board for over four terms. She is active in historic preservation, currently serving as Chair of the County Historic Preservation Board. Over the years Munson served on the Lakeview PTO and countywide PTO Council, with Girl Scouts, and with the Community Association, among others. Her 25 years of work with the township's volunteer fire department continues. Munson is a long-time research scientist and archaeologist at Indiana University, with research and field work focused on prehistoric Native American cultures of Indiana.