What is your professional experience?

I'm the principal of Harbinger Coach, LLC, where I provide executive leadership coaching services to emerging and established professionals, drawing upon my municipal governance, non-profit and private business experiences, as well as a lifelong commitment to my community through civic engagement.

I'm a graduate of Vincennes University and Ball State University, and I hold certificates in leadership coaching from Harvard University’s Continuing Education Division.

I'm the co-founder and a director emeritus of the Shafer Leadership Academy, chairperson of the Delaware County Democratic Party and serve as president of the Muncie Fire Merit Commission and as a board member of the Whitely Community Council. I attend Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church and serve as an elder and deacon.

Early in my career career I served by appointment of three mayors as the director of Community Development for the City of Muncie and as director of Community Affairs and Economic Development for the City of York, Pennsylvania.

I also managed and owned my family’s business, David Dale Designs, an interior design and project management company specializing in healthcare, educational, liturgical and corporate environments, for nearly 20 years, and owned a logistical services business in Chicago.

In addition to my current community services activities, I previously served on board positions at LifeStream Services, IU Health BMH Foundation, the YMCA of Muncie, Masterworks Chorale, the Muncie Industrial Revolving Loan Fund, and the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, to mention a few.

What is your public office experience?

have run before but not held office

If applicable, please list offices you have run for or held.

In 2019 I ran for mayor of Muncie.

What are the specific skills that you bring to the position for which you are running?

For the past 35 years my civic interests have mainly been focused on organizational leadership, strategic and accessible municipal governance, endeavors that reduce poverty and increase seniors to stay in their homes, and the positive expansion of economic vitality for communities through practicable application of planning and execution oriented tasking; meaning, I've served in and for organizations in a capacity to address issues and opportunities.

The primary skills that I've used over the years, skills that I'm always doing my best to improve, are listening, humble inquiry, finding common ground with others without watering down a solution, communication, and organizational leadership. And, I'm a task master with a sense of urgency who does his best to not leave something that can be done today for tomorrow.

What are your top 3 priorities if you are elected?

Concerted efforts to alleviate the constraints and threats impacting both affordability and education are paramount. And, the recognition and movement towards efforts to enliven and make possible "Next Generation Opportunities" is equally important.

All three of these priorities though are held hostage by Indiana’s catastrophic 2025 property tax reform act (Senate Enrolled Act 1) which, if not rectified, will cripple most communities across Indiana for years to come. Simply put, Indiana 2025 property tax reform act does little to nothing to advance our way of life in Indiana. And, in East Central Indiana, where rural life and our urban centers are precious and not to be taken for granted, we are most vulnerable to the impact of an unequally yoked relationship with our state government.

Here's my three priorities.

AFFORDABILITY

While some are doing well, too many people and families in Delaware and Randolph counties are struggling. Lack of affordability—which is felt through persistently rising housing costs, utilities, childcare, groceries, healthcare and other essential goods and services—is a reality that adversely impacts no less than two in five people in East Central Indiana.

Utility costs are too high. It’s time our state legislature got out of the backseat with utility interests and into the driver’s seat when it comes to regulating ever-ascending utility costs.

Childcare needs to be recognized as an economic issue that needs fixed, once and for all. Same with eldercare where family member participation is needed to the detriment of the caregivers economic wellbeing.

Housing is an issue on several fronts, from affordability to availability and condition and safety, to the hardship that’s created by Indiana’s flat-footed approach to how tax sale properties are handled. And, it’s time that our state legislature takes a far more comprehensive approach to issues of homelessness by approaching the issue as an opportunity rather than a criminal and matter of nuisance.

Healthcare, especially rural healthcare, needs to be preserved and strengthened. Similar to the threat of the dissolving of our smaller school corporations, by our Republican led supermajority legislature, our rural hospitals and clinics are at risk of closing.

EDUCATION

Education is an anchor which all things are connected in our lives. Our future rests firmly on our next generation and those yet born being educated and active members of our communities. It’s imperative that we make good decisions today so that future generations can attain success.

The prohibition of unlawful dissolutions of Indiana school corporations must be drafted and set into law. There’s a movement being pursued by Indiana’s Governor and Republican legislators to dissolve smaller school corporations which is disproportionately damaging to rural counties like Delaware and Randolph County. Randolph County is currently experiencing this through the dissolution of Union School Corporation.

Indiana’s educational voucher system bleeds Indiana’s public schools both financially and structurally in the short- and moderate-term, and in the long-term limits the promise of public education which has received historic investment. It’s time to make a course correction on how and where our public education dollars are spent so that the vast majority of our students, those who attend public schools, are supported.

Keeping church out of school is a must. Multiple attempts are being made by our governor or the Republican supermajority legislature to bring faith-based language and practices into the classroom that breach the line which our founding fathers established. It’s imperative to stop these practices. I am person of faith and I have no issue with moments of silence at a board meeting or an event, but public spaces are for all people and should not be used to advocate for any doctrine of faith.

NEXT GENERATION EFFORTS

Rarely does an officeholder ask constituents and business leaders what they believe their best future could be if they had the opportunity to help build it. I believe that question should be asked because I want us to embrace our best future together.

And, when we talk about our future we’re talking about our way of life.

More Renewables and Less Data Centers

I’m an advocate for evenhanded approaches to achieve responsible growth. This means courting less data center development—a fool’s errand that’s too often taxpayer dependent and environmentally irresponsible in its insatiable appetite for water and electricity—in exchange for incentivizing renewables, such as wind and solar. Randolph County is a leader on this front and has had tremendous success in its pursuit of balancing farmland usage and energy productivity. Delaware County can be as well. It’s a no-brainer.

Delaware County’s Future

I’m a believer that Delaware County could very well grow a much larger portion of its economy around the education industry, which is well within our reach given our established educational institutions. By recognizing and providing incentives for Delaware County as an educational industry anchor, one that creates curriculum and resources for our nation and beyond, real growth and sustainability could be achieved.

Protecting Delaware County’s manufacturing base and small businesses is paramount given recent closures.

Randolph County’s Future

In the case of Randolph County, let’s keep good things going and protect current yet struggling industry by finding ways to sustain, protect, and support the growth of manufacturing, supporting farmers and maintaining rural health care.

Again, the issue at hand is the immediate need to repair Indiana’s catastrophic 2025 property tax reform bill (Senate Enrolled Act 1) which, if left alone, will create havoc for all communities across Indiana over the next several years. Rural communities will be disproportionately impacted by property tax displacement..

How do your values motivate your run for office?

Throughout my life I've strived to be a servant-leader. The core tenets of servant-leadership are that one is called to be involved in making this life better, that one is aware of the needs of others, which can only be achieved through listening and being empathetic, so that foresight and community building can be achieved. Most importantly is the practice of humility, which for me means putting myself in the right place to serve and understand. This framework of service is my motivation to run for Indiana's senate.

Key Issues

Please share with us your position on a number of issues that are key for Muncie Resists and describe what actions you would take with regard to them. We recognize that some elected positions may not have a direct role in addressing some of these issues, but if you had an opportunity to have an impact, what would you want that to be?

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support the rights of

a. LGBTQ+ individuals?

I believe that all people have the right to live their lives unimpeded by efforts and measures that reduce their independence, wellbeing, and contributions to our society and that no obstacle should be put in place that inhibits someone's rightful opportunity to do so. My faith and my daily actions and interactions support the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and I have demonstrated that in both subtle and unnoticed ways, and, when necessary, in proactive and public ways. It's part-and-parcel to who I am and how I grew up.

b. people with disabilities?

I believe that people with disabilities should be able to participate to the fullest means possible in our community and society and that we should always seek to remove obstacles that curtail any one person's ability to contribute and enjoy the full blessings of this life. I have served, stewarded efforts and projects, and participated in tangible ways to make life more accessible and engaging for those with disabilities since I was very young.

c. people experiencing poverty?

For most of my career I have been working to address and reduce the causes of poverty through direct (volunteer, administrative and planning efforts) and indirect (governance work) service. From my previous work in municipal community and economic development, as well as public health, to my current work in raising funds for the Whitely Community Council's new Centennial Resource Hub, I've placed my civic contributions to work for my neighbors and community.

d. immigrants?

I fully support legal immigration and an unencumbered and swift process to citizenship for those seeking to live in our state and country. As a senator in Indiana's statehouse I will seek to do what I can do with what means I have to support lawful and winsome immigration policies and practices which are in the purview of Indiana government.

e. people who are racial or ethnic minorities/minoritized individuals?

I do and will continue to support any and all efforts to protect and expand minority interests. My work on this front and my participation in Delaware County and other spaces I believe to be self-evident.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support voter access? (This might include your position on vote centers, polling hours, voter IDs, signature matching, the SAVE act, etc.)

I negotiated the recently passed vote center plan for Delaware County as chairperson of the Delaware County Democratic Party. As state senator I will advocate for any and all measures that enable people to lawfully vote void of unnecessary hardship. We don't need more restrictive voting requirements because the system we have works.

In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the power of local and state governments. In what contexts would you support resistance by local officials?

I support lawful statutory obligations and measures of governmental agencies and I will challenge, as able when necessary, any contradictory efforts where jurisdictions of agencies are involved.

In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the constitutional rights of the people. How would you protect and defend our constitutional rights?

Where I have influence and involvement in defending, advancing and perfecting measures that uphold the constitutional rights of individuals and groups of people I will do so as a member of the Indiana state legislature.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support healthcare access for all?

To the extent possible, as a state senator, that I can impact a favorable outcome to deliver healthcare access for everyone, I will advocate and create and affirm healthcare access for all by way of votes as an member of the Indiana senate

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to address affordability of

housing costs?

As a member of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission (MRC) over the past five plus years I have strongly advocated for more targeted, forward-thinking and fiscally responsible spending practices of the mayor of Muncie and the MRC. Consistently, I did not agree with foolish spending which shortchanged the ability to address housing affordability and I've advocated for the past six years for the City of Muncie to adopt a strategic plan. Real example: Giving a developer financial support to build $450,000 homes is incomprehensible. I voted against it. I could provide a litany of examples of wayward spending by our local government. Over the years, in my work as a community and economic development director in Muncie and York, Pennsylvania, I worked assiduously to address housing affordability efforts. I will do that same in the Indiana legislature.

food costs?

This is a difficult thing to impact short of policy and programs which the Indiana legislature can influence; daycare, primary and secondary education and grants for community efforts administered through non-profits, etc. Access to food is a real issue, especially in Muncie.

healthcare costs?

This is also a difficult thing to influence but where and when possible, through state supported Children's Health Insurance Program and other related measures, I will advocate to mitigate the cost of healthcare.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support discussion about science, history, and gender as necessary parts of educating children in our schools?

I commit to seek to reduce the high level of administrative reporting duplication that the Indiana Department of Education places on our community school corporations, as well as the flawed current and pending Indiana diploma structure, which is detrimental to students and their families. Simply put, students will now need to commit to a diploma track which limits a student's choice and maturation going forward which will have real impact on their post-education choices. That said, science, history and anything that honors student gender choice, to the extent it increases an environment of learning for the individual, is something I will advocate for and protect.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support public education?

See above answers.

What do you think should be Indiana’s priority in terms of the electrical grid and energy generation sources? What have you done and/or what do you commit to do regarding a clean energy economy?

I'm an advocate for renewable energy; specifically, wind, solar and geothermal. And, I support a balanced approach for the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) and electric power.

What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to make your specific area of government more transparent to your constituents?

To be an effective communicator means you've got to be a good lister which, to me, means you have to be in varied spaces with varied groups of people who have differing view points and ideas so that good decisions can be made. It's hard not to be transparent when you've gathered with people and agreed to maintain dialogue for outcomes that best benefit communities. I'll do that and I'll continue to do just that.

Do you have any questions? Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’m here to help solve real and pressing problems with the people of Delaware and Randolph counties. And, I'll add that I'm married to The Reverend Ramona Dale, a Presbyterian minister, and I'm the proud father of Elijah, Noah, Daisy and Grace.