Meet Rick Dietz

I am an Indiana native and lifelong resident. I grew up on a small farm in Hendricks county where we had several cows, a couple of mean geese and a lot of room to run and play. I arrived in Bloomington in 1990 to attend Indiana University and since then I've twice graduated from IU with a BS in Biology / BA in Chemistry in 1995 and an MS in Telecommunications in 2002. I work as an independent computer programmer, web applications developer and consultant, and with the Internet and Multimedia Research and Development division of IU's School of Continuing Studies.

I've been an active volunteer with the Monroe County Democratic Party. I worked with Chaim Julian to build a new website for the party, as a Judge in the last Primary, as a Delegate to the State Convention and through a chance meeting at the monthly Democratic Women's Club Luncheon, I got to know Bill Abbott, candidate for US Congress in Indiana 4th District. A short time later I became his Campaign Manager, and, although we lost in the heavily Republican 4th District, we ran a creative and respectable low-budget campaign. I'm proud of the underdog effort we made and all of the wonderful support we received from Monroe County Democrats and those throughout the 4th District.

Over the years I have been involved with a number of community organizations including Wonderlab and the Lotus Festival. More recently I've become involved with the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association (especially their oral history project and website), and the Pin-up magazine. In addition, I've been working to establish a 'technology in the public interest' not-for-profit organization right here in Bloomington, called the Humanetrix Foundation (sounds like: human net tricks).

I enjoy playing music and photography. One of my photography side-projects, Phototag, has been covered in the Wall Street Journal of all places, and has received an award as well.

I am excited about the prospect of working with you as a new voice and a progressive choice for a better Bloomington. I look forward to meeting you and sharing my vision in the coming weeks.

All the best,