Meet Andy Ruff

A Lifetime Hoosier

Andy was born and raised in Southern Indiana. It is where he learned to fish and began to play country music. He met his wife, Susan, and raised his own two kids, Hank and Anna, in Bloomington. He has worked as a teacher in the Indiana public school system, and he taught college courses at the Bedford Branch of Oakland City College. Now he works serves as an academic advisor to undergraduate students at Indiana University.

Councilman Andy Ruff

Andy was elected at-large to the City Council of Bloomington in 1999. His entrance into politics was driven by his impassioned opposition to the construction of I-69 — the NAFTA Highway. Not only was Andy opposed to the trade deal which greatly benefited multinational corporations while leaving working families in the mud, he also denounced the highway construction as ecologically and environmentally irresponsible in the age of global climate change.

Andy used his influence as a city council member to push for progressive policies. One of his first major initiatives came in 2003 when Andy sponsored a resolution to oppose the impending invasion of Iraq in favor of diplomacy, and it was around this time that Andy sponsored another resolution to oppose the PATRIOT Act. In 2007, he stood with working families when he supported the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation in the U.S. Congress to protect and expand workers’ rights. He also worked with labor organizations to develop and pass the Responsible Bidding Ordinance in 2009 — a big win for working families in Bloomington. Andy solidified his progressive record when he sponsored a resolution in support of universal healthcare in 2006 and another resolution in 2012 to oppose the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. F.E.C.

The Living Wage Ordinance

One of Andy’s biggest accomplishments as a member of the Bloomington City Council was his work on Indiana’s first Living Wage Ordinance. The purpose of the Living Wage Ordinance is to “ensure that the City, City service contractors and subcontractors, and beneficiaries of a City grant, tax abatement or other forms of subsidy or assistance pay a wage sufficient for a working family to meet basic needs in housing, child care, food, clothing, household items, transportation, health care, and taxes.”

The legislation was passed and effectively raised the minimum wage to $10.00 for many Bloomington workers in 2005. The living wage in Bloomington is set to $13.21 in 2020 — almost $6.00 above the federal minimum wage.

The Night of the Living Wage

Not everyone in Bloomington approved of Andy Ruff’s Living Wage Ordinance. . .

The Republicans delivered mailers door-to-door to warn of the Night of the Living Wage — spooky, right? They accused him of destroying the economy. In fact, the toe tag shown in the mailer identified the deceased as the Bloomington economy, and it was tagged by none other than Andy Ruff. There were many times when Andy Ruff and his progressive policies served as a boogey-man for the Republicans, but he has continued to stand strong as a staunch defender of the progressive cause.

The Dew Daddies

Andy has a life outside of politics too. He is a part-time country musician, singer, and songwriter. He’s the lead guitarist and vocalist in his band called The Dew Daddies. His music has been influenced by Hank Williams and Ray Price. His son, Hank, plays country music alongside him. Andy considers himself very lucky to have a son who likes the same music he does.

Andy Ruff

Andy Ruff is a Hoosier. He was born and raised here in Southern Indiana. He has worked in the Indiana public school system and at public colleges. Andy worked in Representative Baron Hill’s congressional office during his fifth and final term, and he worked with the Planning Department of Monroe County. He has a long record of public service, and his record proves him to be a strong progressive leader.

Andy Ruff is dedicated to his family and to his community.