Displaying 10 items of The Political Spotlight with the tag "local elections".
-
#762 | Monday, November 02, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
November 2nd, 2026 | 2 hrs 21 mins
2026 election, 2026 midterm election, ballot, campaign season, citizen engagement, citizen power, contributing correspondents, election coverage, election day, election day eve, election issues, election night, general election, indiana elections, indiana politics, local elections, local politics, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, national elections, national politics, november 2 2026, november 3 2026, political analysis, political candidates, political commentary, rachel clark, ryan reese, state elections, state politics, voter turnout, voters
In this 762nd episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins with a brief recap of the Muncie City Council meeting that concluded a short while ago (Monday evening, November 2, 2026). Then... it's time to look toward tomorrow! It's General Election Day Eve, and after months of campaigning, candidates, controversies, questions, forums, interviews, and political nonsense, the 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION is finally here. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondents Rachel Clark and Ryan Reese to the program to discuss the races, issues, and political atmosphere, and what they'll be watching as voters head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. It's almost over! All that's left is for voters to have their say! It all comes down to this! Let's roll! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#761 | Sunday, November 01, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
November 1st, 2026 | 2 hrs 1 min
2026 election, 2026 midterm election, 2027 municipal elections, board of zoning appeals, bza, citizen involvement, citizen power, city council agenda, dan ridenour, delaware muncie metropolitan board of zoning appeals, east central indiana, general election, government accountability, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, jim nicholson, john m sproles, john sproles, law enforcement, local elections, local government, mayor dan ridenour, mckinley neighborhood, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, new castle indiana, new castle police department, november 2 2026, november 3 2026, public safety, republican candidate, sheriff candidate, zoning dispute
In Episode #761 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes Jim Nicholson, the Republican candidate for Henry County Sheriff, to the program. Nicholson, a longtime New Castle Police Department officer who currently serves as Captain and previously spent eight years as Chief, discusses his campaign, his view of the current state of Henry County, and what he would want to change if elected Sheriff. After the interview, Bilbrey shares his frustration with the overall field of candidates in the 2026 midterm general election, now just two days away, and explains why he is already looking ahead to the 2027 municipal elections and the impact they could have across East Central Indiana. Bilbrey also previews the November 2, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, reviews what appears to be a relatively quiet agenda, and closes with thoughts on the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals meeting from October 29, where the McKinley Neighborhood and Mayor Dan Ridenour's administration once again found themselves on opposite sides of an important issue that Bilbrey believes could grow into a much larger fight. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#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
-
#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
-
#752 | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 18th, 2026 | 1 hr 30 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, 2026 midterm election, american voters, campaign season, citizen engagement, citizen power, democratic party, democrats, election coverage, election day, election narratives, everyday citizens, government accountability, local elections, local politics, midterm elections, national elections, national politics, november 3 2026, political assumptions, political bubbles, political discourse, political insiders, political parties, political polarization, republican party, republicans, state elections, state politics, voter attitudes, voters
As The Political Spotlight heads into a busy final stretch before the November 3, 2026, general election, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a broader look at the political landscape at the local, state, and national levels. Bilbrey examines the assumptions Republicans and Democrats make and asks whether everyday citizens actually see the political world the way the parties think they do—or whether too many people have become trapped in political bubbles that distort how they understand everyone outside them. With Election Day rapidly approaching, Bilbrey cuts through the noise, competing narratives, and disconnect between political insiders and ordinary voters, setting the stage for an extremely busy two and a half weeks ahead. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#751 | Friday, October 15, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 16th, 2026 | 2 hrs 23 mins
2026 election, boss hogs of liberty, candidate forum, citizen engagement, citizen power, city council politics, councilor ro selvey, david bockover, delaware county politics, delaware county republican party, democrat david bockover, east central indiana, government accountability, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, jeremiah morrell, jim nicholson, john sproles, law enforcement, local elections, local government, local republican politics, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, new castle indiana, political controversy, political fallout, public safety, republican jim nicholson, republican party chairman, ro selvey, sheriff candidates forum, sheriff department, sheriff election, tim overton
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attended the Henry County Sheriff candidates' forum in New Castle, Indiana, where Republican Jim Nicholson and Democrat David Bockover fielded questions from moderator Jeremiah Morrell of Boss Hogs of Liberty and audience members. Bilbrey shares his impressions of the forum, including the questions asked, those left out, the candidates' responses, and what stood out as Henry County voters got a closer look at the two men seeking to lead the Sheriff's Department after John Sproles' term. From there, Bilbrey returns to Muncie, where he finally lays out the story involving Republican City Councilor Ro Selvey and Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton—an issue he has been teasing since the October 5 City Council meeting. Bilbrey explains what happened, why he finds it troubling, and how the situation has continued to deteriorate. To close, Bilbrey reflects on another wild week of politics and government across East Central Indiana and looks ahead to what comes next. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#747 | Thursday, October 08, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 8th, 2026 | 1 hr 45 mins
2026 election, First Amendment, Jail, boss hogs of liberty, candidate forum, citizen engagement, county government, david bockover, democrat david bockover, democratic candidate, east central indiana, election 2026, flock camera, freedom, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, investigations, jim nicholson, john sproles, law enforcement, local elections, local government, local politics, new castle indiana, political candidates, public safety, republican candidate, republican jim nicholson, sheriff candidates, sheriff election
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey jumps on the Boss Hogs of Liberty feed for our first real look at the two candidates for Henry County Sheriff: Republican Jim Nicholson and Democrat David Bockover. Let's see how this goes! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#743 | Thursday, October 01, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 1st, 2026 | 1 hr 45 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, campaign questions, candidate accountability, citizen engagement, david bockover, democratic candidate, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, government accountability, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, local elections, local government, muncie, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, new castle indiana, september 14 2026 meeting, sheriff election
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares an update on the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting held Monday, September 14, 2026. Bilbrey also updates listeners on Democratic candidate for Henry County Sheriff David Bockover and his continued refusal to answer questions about his campaign. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#741 | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 29th, 2026 | 1 hr 43 mins
2026 general election, 2027 muncie budget, bob mccoy, budget meeting, candidate questions, citizen engagement, citizen power, city council leadership, city council meeting, city government, clerk treasurer kerry sayre, david bockover, delaware county, delaware county indiana, delaware county republican party, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, finance committee meeting, government accountability, government transparency, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, kerry sayre, local elections, local politics, local republican party, mayor bob mccoy, muncie, muncie city council, muncie finance committee, muncie indiana, nora powell, official facebook page, political influence, public meetings, public records request, randolph county, sara gullion, sheriff election, social media controversy, winchester, winchester indiana
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers political developments across Muncie, Winchester, and Henry County. Bilbrey begins with an unusual Delaware County Republican Party social media post promoting the upcoming October 5 Muncie City Council meeting—something he views as more than a simple reminder and possibly part of a broader effort to influence Council leadership. He then shares responses from Muncie City Councilors Nora Powell and Sara Gullion on the recent Finance Committee meetings and previews the committee’s final budget meeting on September 30, 2026, ahead of the proposed 2027 budget reaching the full Council on October 5, 2026. Next, Bilbrey returns to Winchester, where he discusses the response to his public-records request about control of the city's official Facebook page and the controversial post that angered residents. Finally, he heads to Henry County, sharing questions sent to Democratic sheriff candidate David Bockover as TPS continues its 2026 election coverage. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
-
#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