Charlotte Thiele Zietlow (born in 1934 in Milwaukee, WI) has been active in Monroe County politics for almost 50 years. In 1971, Charlotte and other Democrats were elected to the City Council and Mayor’s office taking control from the Republicans which they have never relinquished. A Bloomington City Council president, as well as a member of the Monroe County Commissioners from 1981 to 1988, she resigned to become executive director of the Monroe County United Way. In 1980 and 1996 she ran and lost in the Democratic primary for mayor of Bloomington. She was also a candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, losing to incumbent Republican John T. Myers. She served on the City of Bloomington Board of Public Works during Mark Kruzan’s tenure and remains involved in local government and the Bloomington Community to this day. She was the co-founder of the gourmet cooking supply shop Goods for Cooks and has also worked with SEED Corporation, and Middle Way House. The Monroe County Justice Building was named in her honor.