On Saturday the 1st of March both Republican and Democrat leaders in Delaware County saw striking differences in leadership change in their elections. Both Ana Quirk and Ed Carrol, the previous heads of the parties, each decided not to run for another term. Two members of the Democrats competed and only one nominee ran as a Republican.

Andrew Dale, who has never even met the editor of the Muncie Post-Democrat, won by nine votes. His opponent Jerry Dishman, a long-time member of Muncie’s city council since 2008, resembled a faction usually called “214” while Dale was considered a dissident by comparison. The win comes after many local progressives in 2022, hoping for a more active and dynamic coalition, ran in unison for precinct committee positions. Dale has been active for a number of years in local politics, once being part of both the David Dominick and Dan Canan administrations in the 1990s, and currently serves for both the Muncie Redevelopment Commission and the Muncie Fire Merit Commission.

Tim Overton, the new Republican chair, has been described as a newcomer. In November he spoke out against city council Resolution 14-24, a resolution acknowledging Transgender Awareness Month, and was invited by Mayor Ridenour to speak at Veteran’s Day, spending several minutes of the event expressing his belief that the wars in Vietnam and Iraq were justified. He is a Pastor at Kingston Avenue Baptist Church in Anderson. Time will tell if he measures up to John V. Hampton, Ed Carroll or any other leader in his party.