Monroe County Council member Cheryl Munson died Tuesday.
The 80-year-old Munson was elected to a fourth term as a council member at-large in November.
“Cheryl Munson was a pillar of our community, and we mourn her loss with heavy hearts,” Monroe County Democratic Party Chair David Henry said in a press release.
In running for re-election earlier this year, Munson said the three pillars of her campaign were fiscal responsibility, resource preservation and building resilience.
She said her plan to build resilience included expanding affordable housing, decreasing food insecurity, improving justice and mental health systems, mitigating increasing temperatures and major rain events and growing transportation connectivity.
“Her love for Monroe County, depth of knowledge about our community and its people knew no bounds, and her contributions to the community are immeasurable,” Henry said. “While we are saddened by her loss, we also celebrate the incredible life she lived and the legacy she leaves behind. We pause to remember Cheryl and honor her memory during this difficult time.”
Before running for county council in 2012, Munson served 16 years on the Indian Creek Township board.
She was also a board member for Friends of Lake Monroe, the Monroe County History Center and her local neighborhood association.
Munson was a retired research scientist in the Indiana University anthropology department.
“Cheryl was a friend to all, and she was always ready to listen, help, and offer support to anyone who needed it,” Monroe County Democratic Party Vice Chair Efrat Roser said in the press release. “Her passing leaves a void in our hearts, but her spirit will live on through the work she has done and the relationships she built over the years.”
The Monroe County Democratic Party will call a vacancy caucus to fill her position on the council. Her new term was to begin on Jan. 1.
