Displaying 8 items of The Political Spotlight with the tag "deputy mayor".
-
#740 | Sunday, September 27, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 27th, 2026 | 2 hrs 6 mins
2027, 2027 muncie budget, Contract, acting mayor, bob mccoy, carl malone, city budget, city contracts, city leadership, city of muncie, city of winchester, conflicting statements, contract employee, dale basham, dan ridenour, december 31, deputy mayor, east central indiana, end of the term, facebook, facebook post, finance committee, government accountability, government confusion, government transparency, indiana politics, jeff howe, jerry dishman, local government, local politics, mayor bob mccoy, mayor dan ridenour, mrc director, muncie, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie parks board, muncie parks department, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission, parks superintendent carl malone, public administration, public oversight, randolph county, social media controversy, taxpayer accountability, term, tuhey, tuhey pool, william mcintosh, winchester, winchester government, winchester indiana, winchester politics
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines a bizarre dispute over who is actually running the City of Muncie, Indiana's Tuhey Pool. During the September 24, 2026, Finance Committee meeting, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone said he was no longer in control of Tuhey Pool and that responsibility had shifted to contract employee Jeff Howe. After Bilbrey sought clarification, Mayor Dan Ridenour gave a completely different account, saying nothing had changed and that Tuhey remained under Malone and the Parks Department. Bilbrey breaks down the conflicting statements, questions Howe's expanding role within city government, what the Parks Board and Finance Committee knew, and how councilors can responsibly build a budget when city officials apparently cannot agree on something as basic as who is in charge. The spotlight then turns east to Winchester, Indiana, where Bilbrey examines a controversial September 25, 2026, social media post that may involve Mayor Bob McCoy and has angered local residents. Muncie. Winchester. Conflicting accounts. Confused government. And one simple question: Who the hell is actually in charge? #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#702 | The Ridenour Administration Looks Ahead! Current Questions Remain! | The Political Spotlight
July 15th, 2026 | 2 hrs 11 mins
city of muncie, community update, delaware county commissioners, delaware county government, delaware county health department, deputy mayor, doc peterson, financial aspects of the muncie fire department's proposed station 5 project, former acting mayor george-jeffrey howe, health officer, howe controversy, howe's veto of ordinance 13-26, ken hudson, local politics, looking ahead, mckinley neighborhood, muncie board of works, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission director, new member, ordinance 13-26, ridenour administration, ridenour's first day back as mayor, special emergency meeting, upcoming public services committee meeting
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey follows up on Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's first day back as Mayor! He's looking ahead, and the Administration is pushing the message that "all is well." However, Bilbrey just isn't buying it. In the 702nd episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey covers key developments from the Muncie Board of Works meeting, including the latest appointment to the board. Next, Bilbrey reviews the Mayor's first community update, which includes additional commentary on the veto of Ordinance 13-26. Bilbrey offers further thoughts on the issue. From there, Bilbrey shares the latest updates on the upcoming Public Services Committee meeting. This is the second attempt to obtain answers to questions about the financial aspects of the Muncie Fire Department's proposed Station 5. Of course, questions still remain about the ongoing controversy surrounding George-Jeffrey Howe, his contracts, and his current titles and duties at the City of Muncie. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#700 | The City of Muncie Gets a Social Media Policy! | The Political Spotlight
July 13th, 2026 | 2 hrs 20 mins
700, 700th episode, acting mayor, amber greene, attitudes just get worse, certain members of the administration, change the attitudes, city of muncie, communications director, concerned for whistleblowers, deputy mayor, george-jeffrey howe, harassment, hot, implemented a new social media policy, indiana, interact with the public, local government, local politics, mayor dan ridenour, muncie city attorneys, muncie city council, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission director, shareen wagley, stalking, target employees who speak out against wrongdoing within city hall, time will tell
The city government in Muncie, Indiana, implemented a new "social media" policy as of today (Monday, July 13, 2026). Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has been waiting for this policy to take effect for more than two years. But it might not be all it's cracked up to be. Many are hopeful that this will change the attitudes of certain members of the Administration and how they interact with the public. But will it? Or will nothing change? Or will attitudes just get worse? Time will tell! Plus, Bilbrey is concerned that this might be a way to target employees who attempt to speak out against wrongdoing within City Hall! This has to be considered! Bilbrey discusses it all on this 700th episode of The Political Spotlight! It's about to get HOT! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#697 | Put On Notice! | The Political Spotlight
July 8th, 2026 | 2 hrs 33 mins
acting mayor, city council investigation, city councilor sara gullion, city of muncie, deputy mayor, george-jeffrey howe, indiana, local politics, muncie board of works, muncie city council, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission, newsman and author rick yencer, procedural irregularities, public services contract, put on notice, ridenour administration, the first and second addenda, transparency and accountability
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey recaps the Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Muncie Board of Works meeting, during which questions about the City's contracts with George-Jeffrey Howe went unanswered. After procedural concerns were raised and Rick Yencer asked how much Howe is being paid, the Board offered no response and ended the meeting just over 10 minutes after it began. Combined with comments from Muncie City Councilor Sara Gullion earlier in the week, Bilbrey examines what these events reveal about transparency and accountability, and why the Ridenour Administration may now be on notice. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#686 | Attitudes Not Access! What’s Really Happening Here? | The Political Spotlight
June 18th, 2026 | 2 hrs 38 mins
a turning point has been reached, acting mayor, amber greene, attitudes not access, citizens concerns, deputy mayor, dismissive attitude, drama, lacks access to muncie city hall's computer system, local politics, mckinley neighborhood residents, mrc board president isaac miller, muncie communications director, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour's secretary, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission, muncie redevelopment commission meeting, press release, public comment, redevelopment commission director george-jeffrey howe, shareen wagley, tuhey pool, what’s really happening here
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting held earlier today (Thursday, June 18, 2026). What unfolded was low-key, off the chain. Redevelopment Commission Director George-Jeffrey Howe — who also currently serves as Muncie's "Acting" Mayor and was recently appointed Deputy Mayor of Muncie — provided yet another example of why Bilbrey believes he is unfit for those positions. From his dismissive attitude and rude behavior to the revelation that he apparently lacks access to Muncie City Hall's computer system, Bilbrey asks the obvious question: How can someone serve as "Acting" Mayor and Deputy Mayor without access to the City's computer system? But Howe wasn't alone. MRC Board President Isaac Miller once again displayed the behavior that has made him one of the City's biggest yet still nearly unknown assholes! Mayor Dan Ridenour's secretary, Shareen Wagley, also played her part in the drama. Bilbrey breaks down the clash between city officials and citizens, highlighting the "large" number of McKinley neighborhood residents who attended the meeting to voice concerns about what is happening there. Those citizens held their ground even after Miller tried to limit what the public could say. After hearing what transpired at the meeting, Bilbrey believes a turning point has been reached — and if this meeting is any indication, things are only going to get more interesting from here. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#685 | The Vulture Eats the Turtle! | The Political Spotlight
June 17th, 2026 | 2 hrs 13 mins
2025 death of a child left in her father's truck, acting mayor of muncie, breaking news, delaware county government, delaware county sheriff's deputy, deputy mayor, dunreith indiana volunteer fire department, follow-up to episodes 676 and 680 and 681, george-jeffrey howe, heartbreaking, henry county, hyperthermia, indiana, local politics, mayor dan ridenour, muncie, muncie board of works meeting, muncie park board meeting, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission director, muncie redevelopment commission meeting, severe weather in the midwest, special prosecutor's report to the court, the vulture eats the turtle, wrongful death lawsuit
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey and producer Kate keep a close eye on severe weather in the Midwest, particularly in Illinois and Indiana. The team will be ready to cover and document what comes their way during the live broadcast! The main thing is for everyone to stay vigilant and safe! Beyond that, Bilbrey has a few points to discuss regarding the current "Acting" Mayor of Muncie, Indiana, George-Jeffrey Howe. With last night's Park Board meeting (Tuesday, June 16, 2026), today's Board of Works meeting (Wednesday, June 17, 2026), and tomorrow's Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting (Thursday, June 18, 2026) in mind, Bilbrey thinks this is the BEST time to ask Howe a few questions that keep coming up, yet no one seems to want to answer them! Bilbrey then brings up the situation involving the Dunreith Indiana Volunteer Fire Department (in Henry County, Indiana). There appear to be serious issues here, and The Political Spotlight WILL get it sorted! Lastly, Bilbrey has BREAKING NEWS about the extremely heartbreaking "death of the 11-year-old child of the Delaware County Sheriff's Deputy who left her in his truck after school on August 14, 2025." You WILL NOT want to miss this information, especially if you have been unhappy with the recent decision. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#682 | Howe Becomes the Acting Mayor of Muncie, Indiana — INDEFINITELY! | The Political Spotlight
June 11th, 2026 | 1 hr 45 mins
6 months, acting mayor, conflict of interest, contracts, deputy mayor, indefinitely, indiana code 36-4-5-8(c), jeff howe, legal documents, local politics, mayor dan ridenour, medical leave, muncie city council president jeff green, muncie indiana, muncie redevelopment commission director, muncie's future
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares and discusses the BREAKING NEWS of the day (Thursday, June 11, 2026). Current "Acting" Mayor of Muncie, Indiana, George-Jeffrey Howe, who was recently appointed "Deputy" Mayor and remains the Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, has filed legal documents along with Muncie City Council President Jeff Green to continue as "Acting" Mayor INDEFINITELY! INDEFINITELY could mean anything longer than the original 15-day plan that Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour had discussed, and up to 6 months, as outlined in the Indiana Code. Bilbrey examines the legal filings and shares his thoughts on what this could mean for Muncie in the long term. You WILL NOT want to miss this episode! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#681 | The Other Shoe Appears to Be Dropping! | The Political Spotlight
June 10th, 2026 | 2 hrs 38 mins
000 theft case, 2025 death of a child left in her father's truck, acting mayor george-jeff howe, arrest is coming, breaking news, conflict of interest, contracts, coutinho will be fired because of his role in the theft his wife committed, delaware county ema director john coutinho, delaware county government, deputy mayor, ema board recommendations, follow-up to episodes 676 and 680, former ems office manager meagan coutinho, indiana state police investigation, june 15 2025 delaware county commissioners meeting, mayor dan ridenour, muncie redevelopment commission director, nearly $209, newly obtained records from the city of muncie, special prosecutor's report to the court
BREAKING: Just before going live, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey received the Special Prosecutor's report filed with the court regarding the August 14, 2025, death of a child left in her father's truck, a case previously discussed in Episode 680. Bilbrey concludes the episode by reading the report. To start the show, however, Bilbrey reveals that sources close to Delaware County government say the future of Delaware County EMA Director John Coutinho, who has been on paid leave since March 23, may be decided at the June 15 Commissioners' meeting. Sources within the Indiana State Police also indicate an arrest could come at any time in connection with the nearly $209,000 theft case involving his wife, former EMS Office Manager Meagan Coutinho. Bilbrey also examines newly obtained records from the City of Muncie involving Acting Mayor George-Jeff Howe, Deputy Mayor duties, and his continued role with the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, saying that "something about the situation just doesn't feel right." This episode builds on Episode 676. #ThePoliticalSpotlight