GOP caucus picks county treasurer, county council member
MUNCIE, Ind. − Delaware County Republican officials met Wednesday night to fill positions left open by the November election results. After their action, at least one more caucus will need to be held.
Brad Polk, Muncie City Council member from district 4, was selected by Delaware County Republican precinct committeemen from among three candidates to become the county's treasurer on Jan. 1. Winning the office required a majority of the committeemen, and Polk said he won on the first ballot.
The treasurer's office became open with the election of current Treasurer Ed Carroll to the county auditor post on Jan. 1.
Also being picked by Republicans was Eugene Whitehead to replace Scott Alexander as an at-large representative on county council. Alexander was elected to the Indiana State Senate in November.
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"You need to do that," Polk said his friends told him while he considered a run in caucus for treasurer.
Polk said he has more than 18 years of experience working at Thrive Credit Union in Muncie and a degree in finance from Ball State University. Other candidates for the job, that oversees property tax collection and county investments, were Dave Hanauer and County Recorder Melanie Marshall.
The city councilman said the county would have been in good hands no matter who among the three won the caucus vote, and he has always been on good terms with the two other candidates. Ten GOP precinct committeemen within city council district 4 will meet in another caucus to choose a replacement for Polk on city council. Carroll, who also serves as the county Republican chairman, says he will schedule a caucus date in the coming week.
Polk said he plans to offer his resignation on city council during the Monday evening council meeting that will be effective at the end of the day Dec. 31. He assumes the treasurer's position as of Jan. 1.
Carroll said that the party will schedule matters so citizens in the fourth district will have someone serving to represent them on city council throughout.
"I think we're in an excellent position," said Carroll. "No matter who won."
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Polk said that three people had approached him seeking his support for the opening on city council and he plans to back one of them: Isaac Miller, who currently serves as a member of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission.
Polk will be participating in upcoming training this month for newly elected county officials.
Whitehead won the nod from committeemen to serve on county council without opposition.
He was a Republican candidate for District 3 county council in 2018 and was defeated by incumbent Democrat Mary Chambers. This year, however, Chambers lost her District 3 seat to Republican Matt Kantz.
Whitehead is manager of his family farm operation in Delaware County. His mother was the late Kaye Whitehead, who was a well-know civic leader who was active in GOP politics in Indiana.
"It's an honor to be elected by the precinct committeemen," he said.
Whitehead said that once he has his state paperwork filed, he could be able to assume duties as county council member in time for the next council meeting on Dec. 13.
He said the council is in a good financial position now, not just because of the council but also due to the local economy. And he isn't joining county council with a big agenda upon his arrival but will start by listening to people.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Brad Polk tabbed to be county treasurer, farmer joining county council
