By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – Bryan McCallen, the Democratic Party Chair for Wabash County, announced on Wednesday that he was resigning his post effective on Friday at midnight. McCallen, who has been the party chair for 31 years, told MiBash News in an email that it was simply time for him to step down. McCallen noted that all of his mentors in the party, like Dallas Winchester, Shirley Hipsher and Don Branson among others, were gone and perhaps it is time for a new face for the party. He added that it has been an honor for him to serve the Democratic Party in the county over his tenure, suggesting that locally there isn’t the kind of negative politics one sees at the national level. He went on to say that a caucus will be held to elect his replacement on February 18th at 6 pm in the Crystal Room of the Honeywell Center.
Wendy Frazier, City of Wabash Clerk-Treasurer and one of the few Democrats at City Hall, reacts to the news that McCallen is resigning from his party chair position.
MiBash News reached out to Chad Harris who confirmed that he will be running for McCallen seat at the caucus on February 18th. Harris, who is currently the local Democratic PAC Chairman and Treasurer of the Central Committee, thanked McCallen for his years of service saying that his replacement has some big shoes to fill. He went on to say that, if elected chair, there will be a few changes.
Harris explained that, if elected, the Democratic Party in the county will probably become more aggressive when it comes to candidate recruitment and promotion under his leadership.