Alison Quirk, unlike her fellow candidates, arrived hours lateto watch the polls Tuesday night. She was at a study session forher history class.
While she was studying, Quirk, a Ball State graduate student,took the lead in the Muncie at-large City Council elections. Shewent on to win with the largest voting percentage.
"It was hard to concentrate (while studying)," Quirk said. "Likeanything I do, my school work is pretty important to me."
Quirk, the only female in the race, said the help and support offamily aided her in the victory.
"I think it was a combination of lots of things," Quirk said."People were ready for a new face and new energy."
Young blood also flowed into the Republican party with at-largeCity Council candidate Tommy Rector.
"If anyone energized a new group, it was Tommy Rector," KayeWhitehead, Delaware County Republican Party chairwoman, said.
Whitehead said Rector and fellow Republican at-large CityCouncil candidate Dan MacDonald were responsible for registeringmore than half of the new voters in Delaware County.
Republican candidates for at-large seats did not fare as well inTuesday's election. All three lost.
Rector, a 2002 Ball State graduate and former Student GovernmentAssociation President, gained the most votes of his party, and hesaid he was in high spirits despite the Democrats' victory.
"I was surprised by the numbers, " Rector said. "I was surprisedAlison did so well."
Quirk entered the race eight weeks ago after candidate JamesDickerson's Aug. 9 death left a vacancy on the Democraticticket.
"I was very impressed with her," Rector said of Quirk. "Sheearned every bit of it."
Rector arrived at Republican election headquarters around 7:30p.m. after picking up yard signs. After he got there, he watchedthe numbers slowly fall.
"I was in third place when I got here," Rector said.
"I wish the Republican turnout was a little higher. That's partof the candidates' fault. We can't rely on a base that's notthere."
Quirk said Rector's loss might be because the Muncie communitytends to lean toward Democratic views.
"I know he worked really hard," Quirk said.
Quirk's new job as city councilwoman won't affect her grades,she said.
"I think that running the campaign and being a student was themost difficult," Quirk said. "Come January, I'll have a better holdon things."
Quirk will get ready to take office as she prepares for hergraduation in May.
And she has a lot to learn, she said.
"I want to be a supportive part of this community," Quirk said."When I see all the support, I'm encouraged to go out and helppeople."
Along with Quirk, fellow Democrats Bill Shroyer and ChuckLeonard took all the at-large seats.
Shroyer won a record sixth term, he said.
"I have experience... I've been accountable, and I've beenaccessible to the community," Shroyer said about why he won. "Mostpeople know I'm for Munice, Ind."
"I'm very humble and thankful for everyone," Shroyer said. "Ilove (the job) and helping people."
Leonard was not at Democratic Headquarters.
Quirk said she wants to focus on increasing Muncie'spopulation.
"We've got to turn (the population) around," Quirk said. "Wehave to create jobs."
She also wants to focus on smaller acts, like cleaning up partsof the city, which will create positive energy, she said.
"I'm going to do what I have to do to serve my community and theDemocrats," she said.
Shroyer said he would work for what's best for thecommunity.
Despite their wins, Quirk said she was sad thatDemocratic-mayoral-candidate Dennis Tyler didn't win.
"Tonight is bittersweet," Quirk said.
A similar mood permeated the Republican Headquarters. ThoughRepublican Mayor Dan Canan will return for a third term, noRepublicans were elected for at-large City Council seats.
"This was a tough race, and we knew it would be," Whiteheadsaid.
MacDonald said he knew the race would be rough.
"I knew coming in what the numbers were going to be," MacDonaldsaid. He placed fifth in the race.
MacDonald said his campaign was helped in part by the Ball StateCollege Republicans.
"I feel pretty confident about what we did," he said.
Mike Dague, the Republican City Council candidate who placedsixth in the race, said he plans to stay active in the party, buthe will not run again.
"I'm sorry I lost," Dague said. "I'm sorry we all got beaten asbadly as we did. I think they made a big mistake by not electing atleast one or two of us."
Dague said Shroyer and Leonard "know what's going on" and haveexperience working with Canan.
"I don't think Bill Shroyer has been that opposed to most of theprograms the mayor has put forward," he said.
Dague said, however, that Quirk was in for a "rudeawakening."
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