IRIS FABIUS KIESLING
Monroe County Commissioner, Iris Fabius Kiesling, was born in the Netherlands and came to Bloomington more than 46 years ago as the newlywed wife of a professor of economics, the late Herbert J. Kiesling. Iris has two children: Scott Fabius Kiesling and Stephanie Anne Kiesling, and four grandchildren.
Iris has lived in many other communities, including Boston; Santa Monica; Washington, DC; and York, England. While rearing her son and daughter, she volunteered at church, League of Women Voters, child care board, and Newcomers, as well as other groups. Always concerned for children and the environment, she continued to be involved with the League of Women Voters, being elected president in 1981-1983.
In the mid 1980’s, she coordinated the first Congressional Debate for Indiana’s 8th and 9th District for the League of Women Voters. As important issues of study came before the League, both local and state, Iris became interested in local government, local government finance, cable television, international affairs, the election process, and education. She ran unsuccessfully for the Monroe County Community School Corporation Board (1986).
All this led to her being asked to run for the Bloomington City Council. She served on the city council for nine years, serving as its president in 1990 and 1995 until elected to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners in 1996. She is in her fourth term as Commissioner. She has served both as President and Vice President of The Board of Commissioners.
“The Lifetime Achievement” award was presented to Iris at the 2007 Women’s History Month Luncheon. In September of 2007, Iris was awarded a Leadership Award by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. The Indiana Association of County Commissioners’ most distinguished annual award: “Outstanding Team Effort for a Board of Commissioners” was presented to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners for the collaborative effort to create the Indiana Center for the Life Sciences. Because of her endeavors, Monroe County was designated a “Preserve America Community.” The most recent award given to the Board of Commissioners was the “Public Improvement Award” presented by Bloomington Downtown, Inc.
Iris attended Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, NJ, and Boston, MA, graduating with AD. Iris also attended Harvard University, Indiana University and Syracuse University.
Community Service History:
Monroe County Board of Commissioners 1997-present; President 1999, 2000, 2007; currently Vice President
Bloomington City Council 1987-1996; President 1990 and 1995
Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors
Bloomington Development Learning Center Child Care Board of Directors
CASA/GAL Program founding member and Board of Directors
Farmers Market Advisory Board
Citizens for Community Justice
Local Council of Women (Bloomington Hospital)
League of Women Voters President
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association Board of Directors
Monroe County Solid Waste Management District Board of Directors President
United Way of Monroe County Board of Directors
Indiana State Pollution Prevention/Clean Manufacturing Board Chair
South Central Community Action Program/Head Start Board of Directors, Treasurer
Local and Regional Church Boards
Monroe County Youth Services Bureau Advisory Board
Monroe County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
NAACP Member and Executive Committee, Local Branch
Monroe County Child Protection Team
Monroe County Ambulance Advisory Board Member
Monroe County Community Corrections Advisory Board Member
Monroe County Plan Commission
Monroe County Alternative Transportation Advisory Team
Judge (more than fifteen years) of the I.U. Little 500 Women’s Race
The Chamber of Commerce’s Franklin Initiative Reality Store Volunteer
Monroe County Humane Association Advisory Board Member
I.U. Retirees Association, Board Member and President
Bloomington Funeral Consumer Alliance Board Member
