Another Muncie City Council member resigns

Another Muncie City Council member is resigning the board.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, Isaac Miller was appointed to fill another council member’s term six months ago and is leaving because of the requirements of a new job.

Republican Isaac Miller was appointed to the District 4 seat after multiple caucus ballots last December.  He replaced Brad Polk, who was chosen in caucus to become Delaware County treasurer.

Miller says he’s isn’t leaving Muncie.  But a new job requires him to leave the council.

“In the last month, I actually received a job offer from the United States Election Assistance Commission, based in Washington, D.C.  While I get the privilege of working from home, and am still planning on calling Muncie home – because it is, this position is a federal government position, making me subject to the federal Hatch Act, meaning my resignation must happen this evening.”

According to the US government, the Hatch Act limits certain political activities of federal employees.  That includes being allowed to hold partisan political office.

When Miller was appointed to city council, he intended to run for the seat in this year’s election.  But the county election board voted to remove him from the May primary ballot because of paperwork issues.

“This year has not looked how I thought it would,” Miller said at Monday’s city council meeting.

A GOP caucus will be called to replace Miller on the city council.  Miller also serves on the Muncie Redevelopment Commission.

With Miller’s appointment to replace Polk last December, Muncie City Council became a majority-appointed board.  Five of nine elected officials left in three years for new jobs or retirement.  All county council seats are up for election in November.