Displaying items 1-10 of 12 in total of The Political Spotlight with the tag "board of works".
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#764 | Wednesday, November 04, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
November 4th, 2026 | 3 hrs 19 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, board of works, board of zoning appeals, bza, campaign promises, citizen oversight, citizen power, delaware muncie metropolitan board of zoning appeals, east central indiana, election aftermath, gaslighting, government accountability, government transparency, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, henry county sheriff elect, indiana politics, jim nicholson, john sproles, local government, local politics, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie city council, muncie indiana, november 2 2026, november 4 2026, october 29 2026, political accountability, political controversy, sheriff elect jim nicholson, sheriff transition, team nicholson
In Episode #764 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey opens with what he calls the first major blunder by newly elected Republican Henry County Sheriff-Elect Jim Nicholson—less than 24 hours after the election. Bilbrey lays out why he believes Nicholson and his team were caught in a lie almost immediately after the win, why he sees the attempted cleanup and pushback as even worse than the original issue, and why he is drawing a line now before that kind of behavior becomes the norm in Henry County. From there, Bilbrey returns to Muncie to review the November 4, 2026, Board of Works meeting, the November 2, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, and the October 29, 2026, Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals meeting as several local-government stories continue to develop. There is a lot to cover—and Bilbrey is not letting any of it slide. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#759 | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 28th, 2026 | 1 hr 58 mins
2027 muncie mayoral race, 2027 municipal election, board of works, businessman gary myers, campaign announcement, citizen engagement, citizen involvement, citizen power, city government, delaware county, delaware county indiana, east central indiana, emergency meeting, gary myers, government accountability, government transparency, henry county, henry county indiana, henry township, henry township advisory board, indiana politics, local elections, local politics, makeup meeting, mayoral candidate, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie indiana, muncie mayor, muncie politics, muncie southside, muncie southside wrestling, municipal politics, october 28 2026, political announcement, public comment, redress government
In Episode #759 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the first major development in the 2027 Muncie mayoral race. Well-known businessman and former Muncie Southside wrestling standout Gary Myers has announced plans to run for mayor, becoming the first person to publicly declare an intention to enter the 2027 race. The announcement quickly spread across Muncie and Delaware County, though the rollout caused confusion after Myers' original post limited comments, disappeared, and was later explained as an accidental deletion. Bilbrey shares his initial thoughts on Myers entering the race, what it could mean for Muncie politics, and why this announcement may also mark the beginning of a new chapter in how The Political Spotlight approaches local politics going forward. From there, Bilbrey reviews the Muncie Board of Works meeting held Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and checks in on the Henry Township Advisory Board's emergency makeup meeting, where all board members were present, and a township resident showed up to "redress" the board. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#754 | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 21st, 2026 | 2 hrs 11 mins
2026 candidate interview series, 2026 election, 2026 general election, board election, board meetings, board of works, candidate interviews, citizen engagement, citizen oversight, citizen power, east central indiana, election coverage, government accountability, government meetings, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county township trustees board, indiana politics, local elections, local government, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie indiana, muncie parks board, parks board, political candidates, township government, township trustees
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins by reviewing two recent Muncie government meetings: the Muncie Parks Board meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and the Muncie Board of Works meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Bilbrey then heads to Henry County, where a concerning situation is unfolding involving the Henry County Township Trustees Board, its meetings, and the upcoming board election. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Finally, Bilbrey turns to The Political Spotlight's "2026 Candidate Interview" series and discusses what's ahead as election coverage kicks into high gear. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#735 | Thursday, September 17, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 17th, 2026 | 1 hr 27 mins
2027 election cycle, 2027 elections, Indianapolis, anderson indiana, board of works, candidate recruitment, citizen engagement, citizen involvement, citizen oversight, citizen power, city of muncie, county government, dan ridenour, delaware county, delaware county indiana, democratic candidates, east central indiana, elected officials, george jeffrey howe, government accountability, government leadership, government reform, government transparency, henry county, henry county indiana, indiana politics, jeff howe, libertarian candidates, local candidates, local elections, local government, local leadership, local politics, madison county, madison county indiana, marion county, mayor dan ridenour, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission, municipal government, new castle indiana, political accountability, political campaigns, political candidates, public meetings, public office, public servants, public service, randolph county, randolph county indiana, redevelopment commission, republican candidates, run for office, running for office, winchester indiana
In Episode #735 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey focuses on what he sees as a growing breakdown of public service and citizen engagement across East Central Indiana and beyond. Bilbrey briefly reviews the September 16 Muncie Board of Works meeting before turning to the September 17 Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting, examining its decision-making, accountability, and the roles of Mayor Dan Ridenour and Jeff Howe. From there, the discussion broadens to local government across Muncie/Delaware County, Anderson/Madison County, Winchester/Randolph County, New Castle/Henry County, and Indianapolis/Marion County. Bilbrey argues that too many public officials have forgotten whom they serve while too many citizens remain disengaged. With the next local election cycle beginning in 2027, Bilbrey challenges citizens who believe local government needs better leadership to get involved—organize, campaign, challenge incumbents, and consider running for office as Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, or otherwise. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#730 | Wednesday, September 09, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 9th, 2026 | 2 hrs 44 secs
2027 muncie budget, Privacy, alpr, automatic license plate readers, board of works, city council leadership, city of muncie, city spending, civil liberties, constitutional liberty, council president, dan ridenour, data sharing, delaware county, east central indiana, fire vehicles, flock cameras, flock safety, government accountability, government oversight, government spending, government surveillance, government transparency, in god we trust, in god we trust ordinance, indiana politics, law enforcement technology, license plate readers, local government, local politics, mayor dan ridenour, mckinley neighborhood, mckinley neighborhood muncie, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie budget, muncie city council, muncie city council meeting, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie police department, muncie politics, ordinance 18-26, police surveillance, police vehicles, privacy rights, public meetings, surveillance oversight, taxpayer money
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey turns the white-hot spotlight back on Muncie City government and several developments from Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Bilbrey begins with the latest Muncie Board of Works meeting, then turns to Ordinance 18-26, the proposed "In God We Trust" ordinance scheduled for introduction before the Muncie City Council on September 14. The proposal would require the motto on city police and fire vehicles. Next, Mayor Dan Ridenour defended Flock license-plate reader cameras. Ridenour publicly described himself and the city as "very supportive" of the technology, citing its use in investigations and positive results. Bilbrey pushes back, raising questions about privacy, government surveillance, data access, oversight, potential abuse, and constitutional liberty as other communities reconsider their use of Flock systems. The discussion then moves to Muncie's proposed 2027 budget, the City Council's traditional budget-review process, and questions about whether this year's council leadership and political dynamics will change how that work is handled. Bilbrey also looks ahead to the council's future leadership, discussing who he believes should hold key positions, who may actually get them, and what those choices could mean for the direction of Muncie government. Finally, there is another development in the ongoing McKinley Neighborhood situation—a story TPS continues to follow closely. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#676 | Money Is the Root of All Politics! Politics Is a Synonym for Evil! | The Political Spotlight
June 3rd, 2026 | 2 hrs 15 mins
$200, $30, 000, 000.00 bond, acting mayor jeff howe, arrest of former delaware county emergency medical services (ems) office manager meagan coutinho, board of works, city of muncie, claims, conflict of interest, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, delaware county jail, deputy mayor jeff howe, director of the emergency management agency, director of the muncie redevelopment commission jeff howe, how was this possible, husband john coutinho, indiana, indiana state police, local politics, muncie indiana, new raise, no one knew, official misconduct, paid leave, probable cause affidavit, recently appointed deputy mayor, theft, theft from delta high school girls golf booster program, theft from the delaware county government
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the probable cause affidavit for the arrest of former Delaware County EMS office manager Meagan Coutinho, who faces six felony charges tied to alleged thefts from Delaware County government, Delaware County EMS, and Delta High School's golf booster program. Bilbrey examines allegations that more than $200,000 was taken over four years and poses the question many residents are now asking: How was this possible? The episode also explores county oversight, the paid leave status of Coutinho's husband, Delaware County EMA Director John Coutinho, and the broader implications for public trust. Plus, Bilbrey highlights a potential salary increase for Muncie's acting mayor and redevelopment director Jeff Howe that may have escaped public attention. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#646 | Tim Hollems (R) Candidate for Delaware Co Circuit Ct Judge! & More! | The Political Spotlight
April 22nd, 2026 | 2 hrs 4 mins
accountability, attorney, board of works, carl malone, circuit court 5, city controller, city of muncie, controversy, court, craig wright, delaware county, election 2026, fired, george folley, indiana department of child services, indiana politics, indiana state board of accounts, indiana state police, judge, juvenile court magistrate, law enforcement, lawyer, malfeasance, master commissioner, mayor dan ridenour, misfeasance, nikki eckerson, nonfeasance, park superintendent, parks department, republican, special investigation, timothy hollems
Join Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey as he welcomes Tim Hollems, a Republican candidate for Delaware County Circuit Court 5 Judge, to the show. Hollems has served as a master commissioner in the Delaware County, Indiana, court system for the past nine years. Before becoming a master commissioner, he served as an attorney for the Indiana Department of Child Services for more than 10 years. He has practiced law for nearly 30 years. He is a 1997 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and graduated from the Indiana Judicial College in 2021. Hollems and his wife have lived in Muncie since 2003, raising their two children in the community. Bilbrey and Hollems discuss the campaign, Hollems' views on the current state of Delaware County's judicial system, and his plans for the Court if elected. After the interview, Bilbrey discusses the State Board of Accounts' report on the Special Investigation into the City of Muncie Parks Department in greater detail. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#645 | SBoA Investigation of the City of Muncie's Parks Department! | The Political Spotlight
April 21st, 2026 | 2 hrs 19 mins
accountability, board of works, carl malone, city controller, city of muncie, controversy, craig wright, fired, george folley, indiana politics, indiana state board of accounts, indiana state police, malfeasance, mayor dan ridenour, misfeasance, nikki eckerson, nonfeasance, park superintendent, parks department, special investigation
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey steps away from the candidate interviews for this 645th episode of the show to examine the State Board of Accounts' Report on its Special Investigation into the City of Muncie's Parks and Recreation Department. Bilbrey has covered this investigation over the past few weeks while awaiting the report's public release. The Political Spotlight has been on this story every step of the way since April 13, 2020. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#616 | Always Positive / Always Negative: The State of Our Community! | The Political Spotlight
March 5th, 2026 | 1 hr 43 mins
achievements for 2025, always negative, always positive, board of works, city of muncie, delaware county, delaware county commissioner stephen brand, goals for 2026, indiana, local politics, muncie mayor dan ridenour, public officials, the state of our community
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the "State of Our Community" (City of Muncie & Delaware County) from earlier in the day (Thursday, March 5, 2026). Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand addressed nearly 500 attendees this morning, highlighting their respective "achievements for 2025" and "goals for 2026." Bilbrey reviews the event and shares his thoughts here! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#557 | Thursday, November 13, 2025 - Chit Chat! | The Political Spotlight
November 13th, 2025 | 1 hr 15 mins
board of works, delaware county sheriff's department, dustin clark, indiana politics, jonathon culp, madison county politics, muncie politics, muncie recovery opco llc lease, records request, whitestown cleaning lady shooting
This 557th episode of 'The Political Spotlight' will be an open-topic show! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is currently working on a few topics that aren't quite ready to explore yet, and even though it seems like a lot is happening, everything still feels like it's moving at a snail's pace. There are a few odds and ends to cover as we head into the weekend; this is always a strange time of year, politically speaking. But, as usual, Bilbrey will make the most of it! #ThePoliticalSpotlight