This story has been updated.
Bloomington resident Joe Davis aims to run for an at-large seat on the Monroe County Council in 2024.
Davis joins a growing list of individuals who plan to run for county office next year.
Davis plans to run as an independent candidate, meaning he will have to collect signatures to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. He won't appear on the ballot for the May 7 primary election.
Davis must collect 797 verified signatures to appear on the November ballot. The signature verification deadline is July 1.
The deadline for Davis to file his candidacy is July 15.
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Davis said he's running to bring voice, equity, representation and power to the people of Monroe County.
"Voice is sadly lacking for our majority population," Davis said. "For too long, our county and community have been victimized by outside exploitation of our finite land resources, and the pro-development bias that has existed in our County, City, and Town governments."
Davis said the issues most important to him this election cycle are responsible, equitable land use and protecting local land as it fits into the fabric of what is already in existence.
"Top of the list is the need for affordable housing for the workers, the retirees, the elderly, the students, the socially disadvantaged, and the others who have been systematically disenfranchised from housing security," Davis said. "Not all development is good development, especially that which siphons away the assets of our community into the coffers of out-of-town, out-of-state, and out-of-country predators of our unguarded, undervalued wealth."
Read more: Brianne Gregory running for county auditor in 2024
Davis previously attempted to run for Bloomington mayor this year as an independent candidate. However, he fell short of the required number of signatures needed to appear on the ballot after several hundred he collected were disqualified.
Many peoples’ signatures were disqualified because their voter registration status was considered pending when their signatures were received.
Davis requested a reevaluation of those signatures, alleging class discrimination because his supporters included disenfranchised residents. However, the Monroe County Election Board rejected his request.
Davis later filed a ballot access lawsuit, which a judge dismissed.
He has also long fought the city over alleged trash on his property the city says violates health and sanitation standards.
Davis has attended several public meetings to speak out against measures led by Mayor John Hamilton.
