Michael Stallman sworn in to finish Ryan Craig’s Dubois County Council term

Michael Stallman was selected at a Republican precinct committee caucus to fill the Dubois County Council District 2 seat vacated when Ryan Craig moved to the Jasper mayor’s office, and he was sworn in over the weekend by the county clerk with family present. The appointment places a former public-safety officer and local small-business owner into county government for the remainder of Craig’s term.

The caucus convened at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Jasper Train Depot. Seven precinct committee members representing Bainbridge precincts 2E, 2W, 3E, 4N, 4S, 5S and 6S cast votes to choose a replacement. Three candidates had filed for consideration: Adam Martindale, Brady Albright and Michael Stallman. No numeric vote tally has been released; officials reported Stallman won a majority of votes.

The opening on the council resulted from a local succession chain: Jasper Mayor Dean Vonderheide announced his departure, Ryan Craig was chosen to finish the mayor’s term, and the move created the vacancy on the Dubois County Council that precinct committee members were tasked with filling. The seat carries the remainder of Craig’s term, which expires later this year, and will appear on the ballot in the next election cycle.

Stallman, 46, is a Jasper native who began his public service career at Dubois County Communications before joining the Jasper Police Department, where he served until retirement. He now operates MAS Whatknots Shop with his wife, Autumn, and continues volunteer work in critical incident debriefing for law enforcement personnel. After some initial hesitation about pursuing the county role, Stallman accepted the nomination and said openly, "I don't know a lot about the county. I need to learn." He plans to meet with department heads in the coming weeks to understand their work and priorities.

For Dubois County residents the appointment means a council seat occupied by someone with a law-enforcement background and local small-business experience during a transition year. That mix may shape priorities around public safety, intergovernmental coordination and economic activity in Jasper and the surrounding District 2 precincts. Because the appointment is temporary, voters will have the final say when the District 2 seat appears on the ballot later this year.

In the short term, Stallman’s next steps are familiar to local government watchers: a period of orientation, meetings with department heads, and the assignment of any council committee duties. Residents should watch upcoming county council agendas to see how Stallman’s experience influences county decisions and to follow developments ahead of the next election.