The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Muncie Redevelopment Commission”

#740 | Sunday, September 27, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explores a bizarre and increasingly confusing situation in the City of Muncie, Indiana, involving Mayor Dan Ridenour, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone, contract employee Jeff Howe, and Tuhey Pool.

The issue arose during Parks Superintendent Carl Malone's appearance before the Finance Committee (comprising Muncie City Councilors Dale Basham, Jerry Dishman, and William McIntosh) on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

While discussing Tuhey Pool and the disastrous 2026 pool season, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone told the committee he was no longer in charge of the facility.

Malone explained that, because of his illness and absence, he could not speak in detail about much of what happened this year. That is understandable. However, Bilbrey believed that upon his return, Malone would have received a full debriefing on what took place so he could try to correct issues going forward.

That did not happen; Malone continued to offer little information about what went wrong, what would change, and how Tuhey Pool could improve for next year and beyond.

Then came the surprise.

Malone said control of Tuhey Pool had shifted to Jeff Howe—a city contract employee who serves as Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission. He has also been named Deputy Mayor and served as the "Acting Mayor" during Mayor Ridenour's medical leave. All of this, despite many still questioning the legality of his contracts with the city.

Malone also said Howe now has a team working on the pool.

That was news to Bilbrey. Honestly, it came as a shock!

Apparently, it was news to members of the Muncie Parks Board, too.

So Bilbrey started asking questions.

He emailed Mayor Ridenour and several others for clarification.

The Mayor responded quickly—and the answers directly contradicted what Malone told the Finance Committee.

According to Mayor Ridenour, nothing had changed. Tuhey Pool remained under the Parks Department and under the authority of Parks Superintendent Carl Malone.

So what the hell is going on?

Who is actually running Tuhey Pool?

Did responsibility shift to Jeff Howe?

Why did the Parks Superintendent tell the Finance Committee one thing while the mayor says something completely different?

Which story is the Finance Committee and the council as a whole supposed to use to build the Parks Department's budget?

How do they know who is telling the truth about this or anything else?

What do the other City Council members think?

What does the Parks Board know?

How can anyone responsibly budget, plan, or hold anyone accountable when city officials apparently cannot even agree on who is in charge?

Bilbrey walks through the backstory, the conflicting statements, the unanswered questions, and what he believes is really happening behind the scenes.

Then Bilbrey heads east toward Winchester, Indiana, where a controversy has been brewing for several days.

He examines what appears to be a political and social-media faux pas posted on Friday, September 25, 2026, that may involve Mayor Bob McCoy. Let's just say Winchester residents are NOT happy.

This episode covers the Muncie and Winchester governments, questions about city leadership, conflicting accounts, budgets, and the bigger question of who the hell is actually responsible for what.

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VIDEO version of Ep 740: https://youtube.com/live/_TNl-DBTIcE

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'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey
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#738 | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is nearing his breaking point...

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VIDEO version of Ep 738: https://youtube.com/live/6nrU7B7sc8I

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#735 | Thursday, September 17, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 735th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is at his wit's end over what he sees as the complete breakdown of "public service" among far too many local public servants across East Central Indiana and beyond.

Muncie, Delaware County.
Anderson, Madison County.
Winchester, Randolph County.
New Castle, Henry County.
Indianapolis, Marion County.

Different communities. Different offices. Same recurring problem:

Too many people in public office seem to have forgotten who they work for... and too many citizens aren't involved and can't be bothered. It's only getting worse!

Bilbrey begins with a brief review of the most recent Muncie Board of Works meeting from Wednesday, September 16, 2026, then turns to the Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting from earlier today, Thursday, September 17, 2026.

This is where the frustration really mounts.

As calmly as he can, Bilbrey attempts to explain the problems citizens face with the Redevelopment Commission — the decisions being made, the way business is conducted, the lack of accountability, and the larger question of whether the public is truly being served by those exercising public power: Mayor Dan Ridenour and Jeff Howe.

Then, for the rest of the episode, Bilbrey heads straight down the rabbit hole:

It is time for more people to run for local office! Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians!

Not someday! Not after the next disaster! Not after another four years of complaining! Now! Starting now, because the next election cycle begins in January 2027!

If citizens are tired of the same miserable mopes making the same bad decisions, someone has to step up and challenge them.

Bilbrey spends the rest of the show talking directly to the people who keep saying local government is broken — and asking the obvious question:

Are you willing to do something about it?

If better people never file, organize, campaign, or put their names on the ballot, nothing changes.

This episode is about local government, public service, accountability, citizen power, and finding the next generation of people willing to step forward and run for office.

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VIDEO version of Ep 735: https://youtube.com/live/qIRUU2HHGAM

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#697 | Put On Notice! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attended the Muncie Board of Works meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, where he raised procedural concerns about the Professional Services Contract and the first and second addenda to the contracts between the City of Muncie, under Mayor Dan Ridenour, and George-Jeffrey Howe.

As expected, the Board of Works members offered no response.

Newsman and author Rick Yencer then asked: "How much is Howe getting paid?" Once again, no answer was provided. Howe was not in attendance, and the meeting concluded just 10 minutes and 5 seconds after it began.

Combined with statements by Muncie City Councilor Sara Gullion during Monday's Muncie City Council meeting, today's Board of Works meeting raises even more questions about transparency and accountability within the Ridenour Administration.

Join Kristopher as he breaks down what happened, why it matters, and why this may be the moment the Ridenour Administration is officially put on notice.

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VIDEO version of Ep 697: https://youtube.com/live/R8rNbuRoRUc

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🚨🚨🚨
'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey & Brandon Rudd
Produced by: Kate Thornburg
https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://rumble.com/c/ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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Email: tpsprogram@gmail.com
© 2026 Mud Creek Studio.
—

#686 | Attitudes Not Access! What’s Really Happening Here? | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 686: https://youtube.com/live/28gT9E8eSWw

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#576 | The Shortest Day (2025)! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is coming to you LIVE from Sunday, December 21, 2025, THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

From here on, we slowly start to get more sunlight through June 2026, which is FANTASTIC NEWS!

That said, this is the start of the BIG Holidays... and the end of the 2025 year! Things are slowing down on the surface; however, there are still so many things going on behind the scenes, and Bilbrey digs into it all in this episode!

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VIDEO version of Ep 576: https://youtube.com/live/oUN9sDti4Sk

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#510 | More Blackford Co. Questions! Lt Gov Town Hall Fiasco! & More! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Information has been pouring into 'The Political Spotlight' team from all directions over the last couple of days! So, this 510th episode will once again be packed with some of the hottest political commentary out there!

First, Bilbrrey discusses the two arrests made on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at a Town Hall for Indiana's Lt. Governor, Micah Beckwith. Believe it or not, there are NO WINNERS here, only losers!

From there, Bilbrey has more questions about Blackford County! Questions that keep coming up about the murder and those investigating it. He also has other questions about different aspects of Blackford County Government. Who would have thought there would be multiple ongoing issues in different areas of Indiana's fourth-smallest County? Anyway, as he tends to do, Bilbrey found a way to get involved in it all!

Next, Bilbrey quickly reviews a brief Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting from today, Thursday, August 21, 2025. Not much happened, but one thing did catch Bilbrey's attention, and he has some thoughts about it!

Then, Bilbrey covers the latest news out of Henry County, Indiana, related to the massive sexual assault case and lawsuits that have shaken the county. Some say it's the worst-kept, open secret that EVERYONE KNEW, yet EVERYONE acted like they didn't know. And now, things are falling apart! And Bilbrey shares some thoughts on it all!

And lastly, Bilbrey summarizes a brief speech made by a Madison County Sheriff's Deputy during a budget meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The Deputy stood before the Council, trying to get them to understand. It was a strong stand, but did the Council truly listen? Will the Madison County Council do the right thing this time?

Be sure to tune in for this episode LIVE or via replay and share the show with everyone you know.

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VIDEO version of Ep 510: https://youtube.com/live/v0NHzDV3tew . . .

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