Two nights after her victory, Ball State graduate student Alison Quirk said she is still soaking it all in.
"I was hoping to win," Quirk, a Democrat, said. "But to get the results that I did, I have to admit that I was surprised."
Not only did Quirk win one of three open seats, she earned more votes than any other candidate. Her campaign lasted only eight weeks. She entered after candidate James Dickerson died in early August, leaving a vacancy on the Democratic ticket.
To earn the votes, Quirk said, she worked in community organizations such as A Better Way and groups that try to prevent child abuse and offer family services.
"It was a combination of things," Quirk said. "I am a new face. I've been active in the community."
After the victory, Mike Dague, the Republican City Council candidate who placed sixth, said Quirk was in for a rude awakening when she joins the Council in January.
Dague didn't specify what he meant, but Quirk learned a little about politics this week when a rumor surfaced that she might give up her seat and move to a house outside of the Muncie city limits.
"That's not true at all," Quirk said. "It's silly to me. I'm not moving."
Quirk has heard the rumor before and said she knew it was going to be prominent after her victory.
The rumor began when opponents learned about property she, her husband and her father-in-law own in Delaware County. She, however, has lived on Manchester Road< BI> < BI>in north Muncie ever since her marriage in June 2002.
"As far as I know, it's not against anything to own property outside the city," Quirk said. "We live in Muncie."
Until she takes office in January, Quirk has no official duties. Once she starts, she will have to balance her work on the Council with her student teaching at Anderson High School. She said her husband will help her take care of anything she might miss while she's in class.
"My husband's going to help me a lot," Quirk said.
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