Basham, Dillon star in 'The Voice' competition
This version of 'The Voice' is a competition for the GOP nod for state rep of Muncie
(An earlier version of this article misnamed Mayor Dan Ridenour as “Dennis Ridenour.” I regret the error).
MUNCIE — State representative candidate Susan Dillon earned an “AQ” rating from the National Rifle Association, a passing score from Hoosiers for Medical Liberty, and she calls herself “Your Voice of Choice” and “The Voice of Choice.”
Her primary opponent, fellow Republican Dale Basham, earned the support of Mayor Dan Ridenour and other well-known local GOP members, and he calls himself “The Voice of Muncie.”
She is willing to respond to questions about former President Donald Trump, “Stop the Steal” and Jan. 6 head-on. He deflects those inquiries, saying he’s focused on the future of Muncie, not on the rear-view mirror.
Dillon listed $10,846 in campaign contributions for the pre-primary reporting period (Jan. 1-April 8), but $7,223 of that was donated by herself — and you can count the itemized number of individual donors to her candidacy on less than two hands.
Basham had only raised $8,995 during the reporting period, including $1,000 in loans from himself, but his itemized individual donors number in the dozens.
Those are some of the differences between two voices competing not on reality TV but for the Republican nomination to challenge longtime state lawmaker Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, in the general election.
Basham, a retired educator, including ex-classroom teacher, guidance counselor and associate principal, lost to Errington 11,160 to 8,667, or 56.29% to 43.71%, two years ago.
Dillon’s background is in health care, including more than 30 years as a registered nurse across the continuum (school nurse, administrator, educator, case manager, and more).
Both are very actively campaigning. If you receive postal service, you’ve certainly seen Dillon’s face multiple times on the cover of Great Deals, the free coupon magazine on which she had spent more than $6,000 in ads as of April 8.
Both candidates have been out and about in recent weeks: Basham at a barroom karaoke, bowling alley, Rotary, a St. Patrick’s Day parade, and events for Habitat for Humanity, Muncie on the Move, and Boys and Girls Club; and Dillon at a Youth for Christ banquet, Second Harvest food distribution; American Legion fundraiser, senior center event, a sanitary district ribbon cutting, and a neighborhood association meeting.
And both were photographed with the Easter Bunny.
“I think that both have very similar positions,” conservative activist Chris Hiatt told me. “Susan, like Dale, is an extremely polite, well-educated and well-informed individual. However, with Dale’s local name recognition including being on the ballot previously, Susan will have an uphill battle in the primary.”
Here are the candidates’ answers to my questions:
Where do you stand on former President Trump? Jan. 6? Was the election stolen from the ex-president?
Dillon: Trump? I did not like his approach, but I do think a lot of his policies were beneficial to our country. Jan. 6? I do not support the actions of those who were disorderly and broke the law. The election? I wish I had access to the actual data to review it myself. Clearly this further divided our country as each side presents its own ‘facts’. It is sad when we let things like this divide ourselves further and ruin relationships. Although I follow global/national issues, I focus more heavily on state and local issues which I believe I will be able to influence in a positive way.
Basham: Interestingly, as I have campaigned throughout the district, I have not heard one question or comment about the last election. I have, however, heard hundreds of comments about the state of public, private, and home education in Muncie, the shocking rise in the cost of gasoline, bread, bacon, and medicine, the need for good-paying jobs in Muncie-Delaware County, the overwhelming crisis at our Southern border, the debacle of our exit from Afghanistan, taxation without representation, and the tragedy that is unfolding before our eyes in the Ukraine. As a candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives, District 34, I am focused on the future for Muncie, Indiana, rather than looking in the rear-view mirror of the past.
Are there any key endorsements you've picked up? Any individuals, politicians or organizations you'd like to mention as supporters of yours?
Basham: Traditionally, endorsements often wait in the wings until the candidate is determined in the primary election. However, I have been blessed by endorsements in the form of offers of campaign signs in yards, notes of support, and financial support. Some of those signs of support have come from Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and Sherry Ridenour, former Muncie Mayor Alan Wilson, former Superintendents of Muncie Community Schools Marlin Creasy and Tim Heller, Hoosier Conservative Roundtable, former students, parents of former students, colleagues from my years in public education, local owners of small businesses, local leaders of large businesses, past and present office holders, and many of the current Republican candidates for office in Muncie-Delaware County.
Dillon: As you know, many organizations hold off on their endorsements until after the primaries and incumbents are most likely to get endorsements based on their voting record, which I do not have. You will find I have received an AQ rating by the NRA based on my responses to their questionnaire and similarly received a “Pass” score from Hoosiers for Medical Liberty.
(Begin reporter’s note: AQ is the highest rating that a candidate without a voting record can receive from the NRA’s Political Victory Fund. The rating is based solely on candidates’ responses to a Questionnaire. The NRA’s PVF website gave Basham a rating of “?”
(Meanwhile, Hoosiers for Medical Liberty is an organization whose agenda includes opposition to vaccine mandates. Examples from the group’s questionnaire to candidates include whether they agree that “segregation based on vaccination status is unacceptable and should be a punishable offense and will vote in accordance;” “the individual’s right to bodily autonomy supersedes the rights of a business;” and “I agree to” support “legislation proposed by Hoosiers for Medical Liberty that ends medical mandates and protects the individual’s right to accept or decline a vaccination or medical treatment even in direct opposition to Republican leadership.”
While Dillon received a passing score from the group, Basham earned a score of “UNKNOWN!?” End reporter’s note).
I'm not seeing a big difference in fundraising between you two, though you (Basham) appear to have a wide variety of contributors compared to only a handful of donors to the Dillon campaign. Does that help (disadvantage) you?
Dillon: My fundraising has been very adequate for this campaign. I am very prepared to run a new campaign after May 3. Many of my supporters are choosing between paying for utilities or other necessities and have chosen to support me in ways other than financially. For this reason, I intentionally did not focus on asking for money in my campaign as many candidates do. Any funds I received were freely given without any sort of coercion.
Basham: As I indicated in my earlier response, I am blessed by a large number of donors who support our campaign. As you may know, after graduating from Ball State University, I had the privilege of a 30+ year career at Muncie Southside High School as a teacher, guidance counselor, and associate principal. I moved to the Muncie Area Career Center as the Director of career, technical, and adult education. After retirement, I served on the Muncie Community Schools Board. Shortly thereafter, I served in a variety of interim administrative positions, including principal of Muncie Central High School, to help pave the way for the consolidation of two high schools into one. As most of you know, during the last years of my career in education, I also served as President of Muncie Rotary and then was elected Governor of Rotary International District 6560, jobs that allowed me to shine a spotlight on our beloved City of Muncie to Rotarians around the world. I have been representing Muncie for years!
Throughout the last several months, I have traveled every corner of Muncie-Delaware County as the Interim Executive Director of the Muncie Visitors Bureau. Even though my contract ended on 31 December, I treasure the many memories, the stories I shared with all of you, stories of hard-working Hoosiers - business owners, hoteliers and citizens who make Muncie-Delaware County the crown jewel of East Central Indiana. I was amazed by the excited visitors from around the globe who came to Muncie for all sorts of reasons. The experience once again fueled my fire to campaign to represent you and our community as your State Representative.
It makes perfect sense to me that I have garnered support from many Munsonians and donors from around the country because of my many years of service in public education, Rotary International, and the Muncie Visitors Bureau. Citizens of Muncie know me, trust me, and understand that I may not have all of the answers and solutions, but I know the people who do.
Can you help me (further) understand any differences or choices voters have between the two of you? What differentiates you?
Dillon: There are several things that set me apart as the most qualified candidate for this position. First, I have a well-rounded background, including 30+ years in a very successful career as a registered nurse across the healthcare continuum. Starting as a bedside nurse, I worked as a school nurse, administrator, educator, case manager, and more. I have a very comprehensive understanding of healthcare.
My husband David and I have five children. I am the only candidate with a school-aged child who attends a local public school. This gives me intimate understanding of how our school systems are currently struggling post-pandemic (Please see my website under Platform. I answer the question in much more detail of how being the only candidate with a school-aged child makes me better qualified for this position.). Our schools are not the same as they were 10 years ago when my oldest graduated from high school. Times have changed, and we need someone who understands current issues at the Statehouse. As a Masters-prepared educator, I have experience teaching nursing clinicals at college level and can speak on behalf of educators. I also built, implemented and automated an online training program for an organization of over 900 employees in 2019. I have expert knowledge and experience with online education which has become an integral part of our education system. As a parent, educator, and an expert in online education, I have the experience and understanding needed to tackle tough education issues.
I also have a son in military active duty, and a veteran son working in law enforcement. I fully understand the sacrifice it takes to maintain our freedoms.
Currently, as a full-time community outreach volunteer, I am known as a problem-solver and advocate for everyone. I truly know the issues faced by our community because I have actively been working in our community to address them. When I realized I could only do so much as a community volunteer and community members asked me to step up as an advocate, I realized I could do this better in the position of State Representative.
As far as voters choosing between myself and my opponent, I can only say I am running on my personal credentials which make me very well-qualified for this position. I encourage voters to study all the candidates and select the ones who will best represent our community. I am running a very transparent campaign and challenge voters to seek answers from all candidates. If voters find a lack of transparency before elections, there will also be a lack of transparency afterwards.
Basham: I have been so focused on sharing my vision throughout District 34 that I cannot offer any comparison. Our campaign has knocked on doors, planted yard signs, hosted public events, spoken to large and small groups all over Muncie not only to share our vision for the future, but also to listen and learn from the citizens of Muncie.
As a lifelong Christian conservative, coupled with my many years in education and service to our community, I am uniquely prepared to represent our common-sense Muncie values at the statehouse in Indianapolis.
As a former educator, I will be your voice for student-centered, family-focused education. I will advocate for the students, parents, and educators in Muncie.
Having traveled throughout Muncie-Delaware County for years, I will continue to work with our Mayor and city officials, as well as our Commissioners and county leaders, to promote Muncie as a destination for new businesses and continued economic development. Let’s bring more high paying jobs to Muncie!
A final question for Dillon: I wonder if anyone will think you are pro-choice based on your ‘voice of choice’ slogan?
Dillon: I have heard inquiries as to the meaning. Once explained, there is generally full agreement that I am the best choice to be a voice and advocate for our community.
Seth, Did you mean to write "Dennis Ridenour" in the 2nd. paragraph?