Leading the city

The City of Muncie had three mayoral elections and two mayors in the 2010s, a majority of which was presided over by Dennis Tyler (D). Going into the 2020s, the role will be served by Dan Ridenour (R).

Sharon McShurley (2008-11):
Sharon McShurley (R) was Muncie’s 32nd mayor and the first female mayor of the city. McShurley previously served in the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Ball State. While she ran a lean administration with respect to the city’s budget, some of her accomplishments during her tenure included strategic planning with respect to city parks, work with Prairie Creek Reservoir and Tuhey Pool, and infrastructure improvements in terms of paving and sidewalks, said professor emeritus of political science Ray Scheele in a previous Daily News article. McShurley was defeated in her run for reelection in 2012.

Dennis Tyler (2012-19):
Dennis Tyler (D) was elected as Muncie’s 33rd mayor after defeating the incumbent mayor in the 2011 city elections. Tyler, the first Democratic mayor of the city in 20 years, previously served as a Muncie firefighter and as a state representative in the Indiana General Assembly. In 2015, he won a second term as mayor after running unopposed. Tyler’s second term coincided with the arrests of six Muncie individuals as part of a multi-year and ongoing investigation by the FBI and IRS into the payment of kickbacks in exchange for public works projects and other corruption-related matters in the city. After deciding not to run for another term, Tyler was arrested in November as part of the investigations. He was indicted on one charge of theft of government funds and faces a jury trial in federal court Jan. 21, 2020. As mayor, Tyler said one his best memories was bringing the Cardinal Greenway, Indiana’s longest span of recreational trails, to the Muncie community.

Dan Ridenour (starting January 2020):
Dan Ridenour (R) was elected as Muncie’s 34th mayor after winning more than 60 percent of the popular vote in the November mayoral elections. Ridenour previously served on Muncie’s City Council and as an associate vice president at MutualBank. His win was a referendum on the current city administration and the multiple investigations, said Chad Kinsella, assistant professor of political science, public administration and American politics at Ball State. As mayor, Ridenour said he wants to institute long-term infrastructure plans, look into Taxi Increment Financing (TIF) districts and improve communication from the city administration, among other things.

With more than 60 percent of the popular vote, Dan Ridenour (R) will become Muncie's first mayor of the next decade. Ridenour defeated his Democratic opponent Terry Whitt Bailey by more than 2,800 votes. Bailey Cline, DN