Muncie's mayor of 11 years announced he would not seek a fourth term, leaving behind a legacy of solving a major economic crisis and building bridges between the city and Ball State University.
His biggest accomplishment during his 11 years in office was improving the financial shape of the city, Dan Canan said Thursday in a press conference. Unpaid bills and excessive borrowing had crippled the economic ability of Muncie when he took office. Despite all of his work, the city still finds itself in an economic bind.
Political Science Chairman Joseph Losco said that doesn't mean Canan is at fault, but rather the state of the national and international economy.
"He should be credited for doing a good job of getting the budget difficulties under control," Losco said. "It was a difficult environment to work in and he maneuvered through it well, at least as well as could be expected."
Despite being popular enough to win the mayor's race three times, Canan said it was time to move on, but that he would continue to be involved in Muncie.
He said one reason he doesn't want to run again is the large amount of work necessary to run a campaign.
"It's a huge undertaking for me and my family," he said. "Not that we're too tired to run again, but there's life after politics."
His wife, Barbara Canan, said deciding not to run again was difficult, and Dan Canan said he wouldn't completely rule out a return to politics in the future. The hardest part of stepping down is leaving all of his friends at City Hall, he said.
Dan Canan had a good relationship with the Ball State community and helped bridge the gap that sometimes existed between the city and the university.
Campaign Manager Jonna Reece
said he helped improved the cooperation between the two communities.
"The relationship has always been a separation between town and gown," she said. "He worked hard to bring Ball State into the city's infrastructure."
Dan Canan said he enjoyed working with President Jo Ann Gora, who helped him strengthen the connection between Muncie and Ball State. Gora was out of town visiting a donor Thursday and was unavailable for comment.
Working with Ball State students and helping them feel comfortable in the city was always a priority.
Former Student Government Association President and senior Steve Geraci has known Dan Canan for a decade and Geraci said he was always struck by the mayor's willingness to get students involved.
"He was always willing to just go with an idea," Geraci said. "He would never put down any suggestions that came from the students."
Dan Canan and the Mayor's Commission was instrumental in helping bring the MITS loop to the area east of campus. He and former SGA President Ben Tietz created the Mayor's Commission in 2005 to create a dialog between students and government officials.
"I don't think that would have been possible without the Mayor's Commission," Geraci said.
Student opinions were taken as seriously as other Muncie residents, Geraci said, which was very empowering and something he hopes Dan Canan's successor will continue.
Political party will be less of a factor in the mayoral race than it would be in a national race, Losco said, with both Democrats and Republicans coming into a tough situation.
"Anybody who comes in to replace Dan Canan is going to be faced by a lack of resources and increasing needs," he said.
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