Dishman party change creates Republican majority on Muncie City Council
Dishman's party change — announced on Saturday, Aug. 2 — gives Republicans a 5-4 majority on the council.
Dishman — the longest-serving member on the current council — became the second council Democrat in recent weeks to change his party affiliation.
In June, council member Brandon Garrett also announced he was becoming a Republican.
In a statement released on Saturday, Dishman said he "did a lot of soul searching and also spent multiple hours speaking with many trusted and valued friends from both sides of the aisle" before making his decision to change parties.
Dishman, first elected to the council in 2005, said most of those he spoke to "merely confirmed what I already knew to be the right move."
"I have been a moderate Democrat my entire life," he said. "However, the local Democrat Party has gone, in my opinion, to the far left and no longer aligns with my values and beliefs."
Dishman became the third local public official to change parties since Andrew Dale was elected Democratic Party chairman in March.
In April, Eric Hoffman elected Delaware County prosecutor as a Democrat in 2018 and 2022, announced he would seek a third term in 2026 as a Republican.
On Saturday, Democratic chairman Dale said he was not surprised by Dishman's announcement.
He released an open letter he had sent to Dishman that said the city council member had not returned messages Dale sent via voicemail, e-mails and text messages since March.
"I now read that you believe the local Democratic Party is disproportionally progressive," Dale wrote. "I don't share that assertion because I know that's factually untrue."
Dale said his party is "an organization made up of a blended group of people who believe in supporting the U.S. Constitution, upholding the laws which serve as the guardrails for our society."
The Democratic chairman also said "at-large and marginalized communities should be cared for and protected and nurtured to an extent where fear is exchanged for hope."
Dale said what Dishman has "signed up for (as a Republican) is not what the Delaware County Democratic Party believes."
Not surprisingly, Dale's Republican counterpart, Tim Overton, was more upbeat about Dishman's party change.
The Republican chairman said Dishman "brings with him a distinguished record of public service, a lifetime of wisdom, strong relationships, and proven effectiveness that will strengthen our shared efforts."
"With Mayor Dan Ridenour, the city council and Republican county leadership now aligned, we are uniquely positioned to partner more effectively than ever before," Overton said.
He said a "common vision" focused on making Muncie "a safe, thriving community where families flourish and future generations choose to stay."
Since Republican David Dominick unseated two-term Democratic Mayor James P. Carey in 1991, Republicans have won six of eight Muncie mayoral elections.
However, until Dishman's announcement on Saturday, the past 34 years have seen local Democrats retain a majority on Muncie City Council.
Roger Overbey, a former Democratic city council member, attended Saturday's event that saw Dishman announce his party change and posed for photos with his former council colleague.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Council member Dishman leaves Democrats, joins Republicans
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