This engaging narrative by a former mayor offers a rare inside look at the workings of city government under the strong-mayor system . . . the politics and personalities that shaped the growth of her town in a crucial period of its history. This book tells how Tomilea Allison accidentally became mayor of a small university town in southern Indiana. Shown a draft of the book, a resident, already familiar with part of the history, said she could hardly wait to see the next chapter. How would it all turn out? A professor called it an invaluable source for students of public and environmental affairs. In 1963 Tomilea Allison, a native Californian, was newly arrived in Bloomington, Indiana, as a faculty wife (her husband, James, was a professor in Indiana University's department of psychology) with two young daughters. A few years later she found herself in charge of Senator Eugene McCarthy's Monroe County primary campaign for president of the United States. In 1977 she was asked to fill a vacancy on the city council. In 1983, after the sitting mayor was elected to Congress, she was chosen to take his place and served for thirteen years.
This engaging narrative by a former mayor offers a rare inside look at the workings of city government under the strong-mayor system . . . the politics and personalities that shaped the growth of her town in a crucial period of its history. This book tells how Tomilea Allison accidentally became mayor of a small university town in southern Indiana. Shown a draft of the book, a resident, already familiar with part of the history, said she could hardly wait to see the next chapter. How would it all turn out? A professor called it an invaluable source for students of public and environmental affairs. In 1963 Tomilea Allison, a native Californian, was newly arrived in Bloomington, Indiana, as a faculty wife (her husband, James, was a professor in Indiana University's department of psychology) with two young daughters. A few years later she found herself in charge of Senator Eugene McCarthy's Monroe County primary campaign for president of the United States. In 1977 she was asked to fill a vacancy on the city council. In 1983, after the sitting mayor was elected to Congress, she was chosen to take his place and served for thirteen years.
