MUNCIE, IN — Jeff Stanley, who has been Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner’s chief deputy since 2019, has announced he will be a candidate for sheriff in next year’s election.
“My decision to run is grounded in a lifelong commitment to public safety, professionalism, and a deep respect for the law and the people it serves,” Stanley said in a news release.
Jeff Stanley
In three decades, Stanley said, he has served “in nearly every capacity within the Delaware County sheriff’s office, from patrol deputy, drug task force investigator, SWAT team leader, bomb squad commander, and currently as the chief deputy.
“I am well versed in all functions of the entire department and I know what it takes to lead with strength, transparency and purpose,” he said.
Stanley is a graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology. He and his wife, Vicki, have two sons.
Stanley will be a candidate for sheriff in the May 2026 Republican primary. Fellow Republican Skinner under state law can’t seek a third consecutive term.
The chief deputy said during Skinner’s years as sheriff, they had “built a solid foundation.”
“We opened a modern 500-bed jail facility, brought back the (city-county) drug task force, launched the Integrated Reentry and Correctional Support program to reduce recidivism, and increased patrol staffing to the highest levels in department history,” he said.
Stanley said the department also “generated approximately $3.5 million in outside inmate housing revenue, increased deputy pay and partnered with national programs to improve investigations and community engagement.”
He said his goals as sheriff would include “strengthening relationships with our rural communities” and to “continue growing programs that help inmates return to society ready to succeed.”
Stanley said he believes in “smaller government, secure borders, strong families, and traditional values that support safe and thriving communities.”
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Chief deputy to run for Delaware County sheriff in 2026