Friends,
This final “Let’s Keep in Touch” message is simple: thank you!
Thank you for the consistent support and many kindnesses you have shown my family and me through these past eight years of service as Bloomington’s Mayor. From young ages both Dawn and I have been motivated toward public service. Dawn right now serves our nation in the highest echelons of the US Department of Justice – protecting the rule of law, democracy, freedom, and justice. I’ll look forward to spending more time with and supporting her in that effort. And more time with our two sons who grew up in the caring arms of the Bloomington community and now live on the East Coast.
Eight years as Mayor were a privilege. The best part was the people – extraordinary colleagues in city government, partners in the wider community, and all of you – supporters of Bloomington’s future. We’re blessed to have so many who worked and work so hard on behalf of the public. That makes Bloomington’s future bright.
Democracy isn’t a walk in the park. Decisions can be complicated, change contentious. Working toward true inclusion/belonging and real sustainability can challenge our patterns of living and acting. It can be politically fraught. It’s also essential. I’m passing the baton and will be cheering on our next set of local leaders to continue the momentum forward.
In the meantime, I leave the Mayor’s chair very proud of what we’ve done together over the eight years. We set high expectations and accomplished a great deal I hope you’re proud of too:
Diversifying and strengthening our local economy with higher wages and thousands more good jobs
Expanding affordable housing by 1,400 homes
Getting high speed fiber built to every premise, as an open-to-all, net-neutral system of infrastructure, with the country’s best digital equity program
Upgrading and making even more progressive the best public safety departments in the state
Realizing the “String of Pearls”: Switchyard Park open, the Trades District humming, Hopewell under construction, and the convention center (at last) underway
Innovating as the nation’s first CDFI Friendly City and its first Sibling City pair with Palo Alto CA, and as Indiana’s first regional climate initiative, Project 46 with Columbus and Nashville
Supporting public education in strong partnership, and with 3 essential referendums
Winning national awards for parks, arts, digital equity, climate progress, inclusion, and more
Supporting our city workforce by tripling training investments, recognizing a new labor union, and establishing a $15/hour minimum wage for all
Maintaining strong fiscal reserves, upgrading our bond rating, and making unprecedented investments in civic infrastructure
Surviving a pandemic, recession, and 45
Deciding not to seek a third term wasn’t easy but has felt right. Campaigning with a big agenda, doing our darndest and getting the great bulk of it done over eight years, then moving on to let the next folks pick up the effort feels good. All of that so because of all of you.
So, thank you, for your personal and political support, and for your commitment to each other and our blessed community. Keep the faith and keep up the good work!
Democratically and ever yours,
John Hamilton
P.S. Please keep in touch! Reach out at johnmarkhamilton99@gmail.com; Dawn and I love to hear how you and yours are doing, what you’re hoping for and working on, or just what you’re thinking about. It’s been a joy sharing this ride together. Onward we go to 2024!