Another Indiana University undergraduate student is running for a seat on Bloomington City Council.
David Wolfe Bender is pushing for younger voices in local government, saying IU students are underrepresented.
Bender is running on what he calls “people-centered priorities,” which include affordable housing and improved accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to his campaign announcement.
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“Better housing affordability and attainability will light the way toward future economic and community development,” Bender said. “It should be our top priority.”
Bender is the second IU student to file for city council after Conner Wright.
Bender is running as a Democrat in the city’s sixth district, which is currently vacant.
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Bender said it’s important for local government to be an accurate reflection of a city’s population. Thousands of Bloomington’s residents are students.
“We contribute to its economy and its workforce,” Bender said. “It's time that a student speaks to our issues.”
Bender is a junior at IU and studies journalism, economics and political science. He is the current director of city and local government relations for IU student government and serves on the Bloomington Parking Commission. He has also worked for the Indiana Daily Student.
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As a student government liaison, Bender has spoken before city council members on issues including antisemitism, equity, tax abatements, zoning codes and traffic issues.
Bender is originally from Fairfax, Virginia, and moved to Bloomington in 2020. He said he doesn’t plan to leave any time soon.
“Bloomington has become a home to me,” Bender said. “When I graduate in May of 2024, I plan to stay in our great city for graduate school — because there's no place like Bloomington.”
