Trailblazing Allen County Commissioner Linda Bloom Dies at 84

Bloom was the first woman elected to the Allen County Commission, serving for 24 years.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Linda Bloom, the first woman elected to the Allen County Commission, has passed away at the age of 84. Bloom served six consecutive four-year terms as commissioner from 1994 to 2018, making her a trailblazer in local politics. During her tenure, she was instrumental in securing state and federal funding for major infrastructure projects in the county.

Why it matters

Bloom's election and long tenure as a county commissioner broke barriers for women in local government in Allen County. She paved the way for other women to pursue elected positions and leadership roles in the community. Her work on critical infrastructure projects also had a lasting impact on the region.

The details

Bloom was first elected to the Allen County Commission in 1994 and served until her retirement in 2018. During her time in office, she was involved in numerous important projects, including the construction of the Maplecrest Bridge, improvements to Aboite Center Road, and the expansion of county parks. She was also known for her genuine connection with the people she served and her dedication to improving the lives of Allen County residents.

  • Bloom was first elected to the Allen County Commission in 1994.
  • She served six consecutive four-year terms before retiring in 2018.
  • In 2018, the late Mayor Tom Henry declared December 7 as 'Linda Bloom Day' in the city of Fort Wayne to honor her 40 years of public service.

The players

Linda Bloom

The first woman elected to the Allen County Commission, serving from 1994 to 2018.

Steve Shine

The Allen County GOP Chair, who praised Bloom as a trailblazer who broke the glass ceiling for women in local politics.

Therese Brown

The current Allen County Commissioner and former Allen County Auditor, who worked closely with Bloom for nearly 30 years.

Tom Henry

The late Mayor of Fort Wayne, who declared December 7, 2018, as 'Linda Bloom Day' in the city to honor her 40 years of public service.

Rich Beck

An Allen County Commissioner who offered condolences and expressed appreciation for Bloom's dedication to the county.

Ron Turpin

An Allen County Commissioner who offered condolences and expressed appreciation for Bloom's dedication to the county.

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What they’re saying

“Linda Bloom was a trailblazer in the sense that she was the first woman to serve as Allen County commissioner. And I think that there were a lot of women who have followed her in elected positions, leadership positions, whether on city council or county council or in the prosecutor's office, that have Linda Bloom to thank for being the person to break the glass ceiling.”

— Steve Shine, Allen County GOP Chair (21alivenews.com)

“Linda was really involved in the infrastructure of Allen County. When it came to county roads, county highways, when it came to improving the area for General Motors, when it came to economic development in the county, she was very, very involved. When you add that knowledge to the fact that she was genuinely a loving person, someone that you wanted to go see, it really made for a formidable individual as an elected official.”

— Steve Shine, Allen County GOP Chair (21alivenews.com)

“Linda was a force to be reckoned with. She was a lively personality who loved people – she loved to help people, to be engaged with people to advance the processes of county government and invest in projects that improved people's lives.”

— Therese Brown, Current Allen County Commissioner, Former Allen County Auditor (21alivenews.com)

What’s next

Funeral arrangements for Linda Bloom are still underway.

The takeaway

Linda Bloom's trailblazing career as the first woman elected to the Allen County Commission paved the way for greater representation of women in local government. Her dedication to infrastructure projects and genuine connection with her constituents left a lasting impact on the community.