Editors Note: This article was updated to correct an error. 

As Election Day 2024 wrapped up Nov. 5, Delaware County Republican candidates and their supporters gathered at the Knights of Columbus Council 560 in Muncie, Indiana, eagerly awaiting results and celebrating the close of a busy campaign season. 

Among the crowd was Jessica Piper (R), an at-large Delaware County City Council candidate seeking re-election for a third term. 

“I’m feeling great,” Piper said. “For the at-large race, the top three get through, and it’s looking very favorable that Brad Bookout and myself are for sure through. Eugene [Whitehead] is trending really close… Republicans should maintain control of the council.”

Piper shared that her motivation to run again stemmed from her desire to build on the fiscal progress the council has made over the past two terms. 

“We’ve had a lot of success working together with department heads and balancing our budget. In our 2019 budget session, we got to a place where we no longer have to borrow money to pay our bills, so we’re not using taxpayer dollars to pay interest anymore,” she said. “I want to make sure that we continue to do that.”

Piper took 23.41 percent of votes.

Chief Deputy Treasurer Kathy Butterfield attended in support of her boss, Delaware County Treasurer Bradley Polk, who is running for re-election. Butterfield highlighted Polk’s dedication to educating the public and his commitment to his team.

“He’s about the people. He’s out there working with us every day, and he just makes it a joy to be in that office,” she said, adding that economic concerns, taxes and inflation were some of her key concerns this election cycle.

Andrew Ramirez, deputy prosecutor and candidate for Judge of 46th Circuit Court No. 2, shared a similar sentiment about his campaign experience. After spending the day supporting poll workers across the county, he expressed optimism, noting the high voter turnout.

“High voter turnout is great — either way, however, the chips fall. It’s awesome that people are going out and having their voices heard,” he said. 

Chief Deputy of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Jeff Stanley was also present to support Stephen Brand, candidate for Delaware County Commissioner. Stanley praised Brand’s business experience and fiscal responsibility, qualities he believed would benefit Delaware County. 

“I’m anticipating the Republicans to win big,” he said. “We’re just hoping to get the country back on the right track.”

Republicans swept the local elections in Delaware County, with Indiana Representative Sue Errington being the only Democratic candidate to win a race in the county. 

For Brand, the evening celebrated his campaign team’s hard work and dedication. 

“Yeah, so with the results that we’ve seen so far, feeling pretty confident, really proud of my team. This is not something you can do alone,” he said.

Mary Brand spoke on behalf of her siblings, sharing their pride in their father, Stephen Brand, who was elected as Delaware County Commissioner.

“We are all incredibly proud of our dad for being elected as a county commissioner of Delaware County. We feel it is a reflection of the trust and respect the community has in his leadership, she said. “It is a recognition of his hard work, dedication, and the positive impact he aims to have on local policies and the well-being of his fellow citizens.”

Brad Bookout, also running for Delaware County Council, celebrated the evening’s outcomes and commended the positive tone of the campaigns. 

“This is a great night. It’s exciting, and I’m glad to be part of a group of candidates that were really well-organized, worked together cooperatively and stayed out of the mud on all the issues,” he said.

Looking ahead, Bookout expressed optimism about the future of Delaware County. 

“I want to see roads paved, wages increase and we want to try to maintain the tax rate as low as we possibly can so we’re going to make all those things happen in Delaware County,” he said. 

Contact Meghan Braddy via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu.

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