Muncie’s new mayor was sworn in on Saturday, ahead of his first day in office on Wednesday.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, he says he’s eager to begin leading the city.

“I do solemnly swear…”

That’s Dan Ridenour, being sworn in by Delaware County Circuit Court 4 Judge John Feick.  The mayor-elect and other newly elected Republican officials took oaths of office ahead of the city’s legislative hand-off on New Year’s Day.

Ridenour says the first goal he needs to attend to is to create an “open, and honest, and transparent government.”  And he says he’s excited to get started.

“Well, we want to enact change because it’s the right thing to do.  This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, in my mind.  These are issues of doing it right and wanting to do it well.”

Ridenour says he’s contacted officials in other local cities to help new Muncie city employees who have never worked in government before get acclimated and offer guidance.

Newly-elected Democrats will be sworn in on Monday evening.  Then, as Delaware County GOP Chair Victor Whitehead puts it –

“Change starts Wednesday, folks.”