Muncie City Council member Ray Dudley is leaving his council seat and taking a job as chief of security with Muncie Community Schools.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Ray Dudley (Photo: Muncie Community Schools)

Ray Dudley was elected to the Muncie City Council in 2019.  Before that, he served as Delaware County Sheriff – an elected position – from 2015 to 2018.  He served in the sheriff’s department for a total of 23 years.

At this week’s MCS school board meeting, Dudley stated plainly how excited he was for his new job.

“This job is actually my dream job.  So I think everything else was just a learning experience to have this position.”

In a resignation letter to the Muncie City Council, the District 3 representative says his new job won’t leave him the time he needs to devote to the council.  He says he appreciated the bipartisan working relationship with other members, especially on budget issues and future park plans for his district.

MCS board president Jim Williams says Dudley has a long track record of working with kids, including as a school resource officer with the district.  Speaking directly to Dudley, he said:

“Obviously, they’ll be challenges, but we think you’re the right person to lead us through them.”

Dudley replaces longtime MCS chief of security Chuck Hensley, who is retiring at the end of the year.  A local Democratic caucus will choose Dudley’s replacement to the city council.