Displaying 8 items of The Political Spotlight with the tag "muncie board of works".
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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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#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
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#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
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#683 | Dan's Good News! Questions Remain About Howe! & INGOP's Big Week! | The Political Spotlight
June 14th, 2026 | 1 hr 52 mins
candidates, delaware county indiana severe weather, deputy mayor appointment, director of the muncie redevelopment commission, embattled incumbent diego morales, encouraging news about muncie mayor dan ridenour's health, establishment's new wonder boy max engling, former gubernatorial candidate jamie reitenour, gop, indiana politics, indiana republican delegates, indiana republican party convention, indiana secretary of state, knox county clerk david shelton, local politics, muncie board of works, muncie city council, muncie politics, public services committee, questions remain about acting mayor george-jeffrey howe, republican, several developing stories in henry county, state politics, storm report, what is the status of resolution 8-26, wild ride
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares encouraging news about Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour, while questions remain about Acting Mayor George-Jeffrey Howe, his appointment as Deputy Mayor, and his continued role as Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission. Bilbrey examines what action, if any, the Board of Works and the City Council might take. Will the Council soon schedule a meeting of the "Public Services Committee"? What is the status of Resolution 8-26? Bilbrey also previews the upcoming Indiana Republican Party convention (June 19 and 20, 2026), where roughly 1,800 delegates will select the party's nominee for Secretary of State. Will it be embattled incumbent Diego Morales, the establishment's new wonder boy Max Engling, Knox County Clerk David Shelton, or former gubernatorial candidate Jamie Reitenour? Bilbrey expects a wild ride. Plus, a look at several developing stories in Henry County that the team is actively investigating. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#661 | Bridge Builder -or- Gatekeeper! | The Political Spotlight
May 12th, 2026 | 1 hr 43 mins
2026 primary election, Leadership, bridge builder, delaware county indiana republican party, gatekeeper, gop, henry county clerk, henry county election board, indiana state delegate, knightsown situation, leader, local republican party, muncie board of works, party chairman tim overton, special election
Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton tells anyone he considers an "outsider" in or around the party that they need to work on "building bridges" and be less "standoffish!" Yet when Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attempts to communicate with Overton about being appointed to one of Delaware County's open delegate seats, Bilbrey doesn't get very far and feels shut out and unheard. This leaves Bilbrey wondering whether it's Overton who needs to build those bridges! Overton acts less like a bridge builder or a leader and more like a "Gatekeeper!" Bilbrey shares his thoughts on this issue in this 661st episode. He also provides an update on the Knightsown situation and other topics under review. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#611 | (Muncie BOWs) & (Henry County Insurance) | The Political Spotlight
February 25th, 2026 | 2 hrs 21 mins
#sproleswatch, 2026 election season, attorney allen wiseley, bow member linda gregory, city of muncie indiana, henry county commissioners, henry county council, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff john m. sproles, insurance, mayor dan ridenour, muncie board of works, muncie politics
In this 611th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a major story from Henry County, Indiana, and then, moving northward, he reports on a major announcement made earlier in the day in his home city of Muncie, Indiana. First up, Bilbrey tackles the Henry County Government's insurance problem! To be clear, the problem is current Sheriff John M. Sproles and the culture he has created among his employees. We then move on to the City of Muncie and the weekly Board of Works meeting, where Mayor Dan Ridenour announced that BOW member Linda Gregory would be stepping away from "public service" after 12 years as a Muncie City Councilor and six years on the Board of Works! The Mayor did not reveal who her replacement would be, but Bilbrey found out it was none other than local attorney Allen Wiseley, a young lapdog Republican, who, like Democrat Gregory and the other two BOW members, will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for Mayor Ridenour. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#605 | More of the Same in 2026! | The Political Spotlight
February 12th, 2026 | 2 hrs 17 mins
2026 election season, candidate filings, chief nate sloan, delaware county building, delaware county politics, democrats, edit money, gop, muncie board of works, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie police, police department, political parties, primary elections, republican party chairman tim overton, republicans, same dirty games
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explains that even though the names have changed, the games remain the same for the Delaware County Republican Party! And Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour is looking to spend some money... does anyone have a building for sale? #ThePoliticalSpotlight