Muncie city councilor changes political parties, creates Republican majority

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie city councilor has changed parties and created a Republican majority on the council in doing so.

In a Facebook post, the Delaware County Republic Party indicated that Jerry Dishman flipped his political affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

“After several months of consideration, I am announcing my move to the Delaware County Republican Party,” Dishman wrote in a prepared statement. “While trying to make this decision, I did a lot of soul searching and also spent multiple hours speaking with many trusted and valued friends and associates from both sides of the aisle. After listening to their opinions and advice, most all of them merely confirmed what I already knew to be the right move.

“I have been a moderate Democrat my entire life. However, the local Democrat Party has gone, in my opinion, to the far left and no longer algin with my values and beliefs. I hold no bad feelings toward anyone and have always treated everyone with dignity and respect and I always will. For those who know me, you know I have always voted and done what I felt was best for the citizens of Muncie regardless of my political affiliation. My loyalty to supporting public safety and well being for Muncie residents host not changed. The citizens in my district, and any other district for that matter, will still see me offering my help and giving it my best.”

Dishman now joins Dale Basham, Ro Selvey, Jeff Green and Brandon Garrett as the Republican representatives on the city council. Nora Powell, Sara Guillon, Harold Mason Jr. and William McIntosh Sr. round out the nine-member council.

“The Republican Party is proud to welcome Councilman Jerry Dishman to our team as we work to move Muncie forward,” Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton wrote in a prepared statement. “Councilman Dishman brings with him a distinguished record of public service; lifetime of wisdom, strong relationships, and proven effectiveness that will strengthen our shared efforts.

“With Councilman Dishman’s decision to join us, the Muncie City Council now has a Republican majority. With Mayor Dan Ridenour, the city council, and the Republican county leadership now aligned, we are uniquely positioned to partner more effectively than ever before. We are united by a common vision: to make Muncie a safe, thriving community where families flourish and future generations choose to stay. The Republican Party is energized by this momentum, and we are more optimistic than ever about the future.”

The Republican Party of Delaware County announced Dishman’s decision to change his political affiliation late Saturday morning. In a Facebook post, Delaware County Democrats responded to Dishman and Overton.

Andrew Dale, the county’s Democratic Party chair, posted an open letter to Dishman. In the letter, Dale mentioned that Dishman had been a candidate for chair of the county Democratic Party.

Dale also wrote that he and Dishman hugged and agreed to work together after county Democrats tapped Dale to be their next chairman in March.

Dale indicated that, in the days since the election, Dishman stopped returning his calls, emails and texts.

“My communication expressed a sincere desire, on my part, to work together to advance our party’s relevance and success. Specifically, I extended the opportunity to elevate your ideas and aspirations for the party, along with my own, and that of our party’s membership for the benefit of the people of Delaware County.”

In his open letter, Dale also addressed Dishman’s commentary about county’s Democratic Party becoming too progressive. Dale called Dishman’s claims about the Delaware County Democratic Party becoming too progressive “factually untrue.”

“Simply put, what you’ve signed up for is not what the Delaware County Democratic Party believes,” Dale wrote. “If you feel the declaration above is too progressive, then I’ll settle for guilty as charged because now is the time for Democrats, Independents, and forward-thinking Republicans to lean in, be present, speak up and serve others as they themselves need served. It’s simple as that.”

According to City of Muncie’s website, the city council will convene for a regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday. The meeting will be held on the first floor of Muncie City Hall’s auditorium at 7 p.m.