Who is Ryan?

  • Ryan was born in Indianapolis, the son of Darrin and Jill Daniel
  • Ryan is married to Amanda (Rager) of Middletown, Ohio
  • He has a daughter named Aria
  • Ryan has three cats, Bellatrix, Luna, and Maya, all who were adopted from the Whitley County Humane Society
  • He attended Columbia Township Elementary School
  • Ryan was a member of the first class to attend 6th, 7th and 8th grade at Indian Springs Middle School
  • At Columbia City High School, Ryan was involved in Student Council, Show Choir and the HANDS Foundation
  • He graduated from CCHS in 2003 with an Academic Honors Diploma
  • Ryan attended and graduated from Anderson University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree in 2007.
  • While at AU, he was a member of the Chorale and Debate Team, while also serving as Student Body President and College Republicans President
  • He also worked on the campaigns of Congressman Mike Pence, Governor Mitch Daniels, and other local races
  • Ryan was named a part of the Governor's Fellowship Program under Governor Mitch Daniels, serving in the Department of Administration, Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), and the Governor’s Office.
  • Ryan moved full time to OCRA, where he served as a Project Manager, overseeing the Rural Capacity Grant Program which funded education and entrepreneurship programs, and then became the Northeast Community Liaison, where he worked in 16 different counties and numerous cities and towns. He then left OCRA in early 2011. 
  • In May of 2011, Ryan won a three-way primary race for the Republican Nomination for Mayor with 48% of the vote
  • In November of 2011, Ryan won a three-way general election with 65.5% of the vote to become Mayor of Columbia City
  • When elected at age 27, Ryan became the second youngest Mayor in the city’s history and the second youngest Mayor in the State of Indiana. 
  • ​In November of 2015, Ryan took over 75% of the vote to win a second term as Mayor.
  • Ryan was uncontested for a third term in 2019 - becoming only the second person in Columbia City history to win three consecutive mayoral elections.​
  • In 2012, Ryan was named one of Northeast Indiana's "40 Under 40" award winners
  • In 2013, Ryan was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Young Alumni Award for Anderson University
  • As a part of his duties as Mayor, Ryan is a member of the Columbia City Board of Works and Safety and presides over the Columbia City Common Council (City Council) Meetings
  • Ryan also serves on the Whitley County Emergency Management Advisory Board, the Whitley County Solid Waste District Board, the Whitley County Joint Advisory Board, ​the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Board of Directors, and the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities Board of Directors
  • Ryan previously served on the Whitley County YMCA Board of Directors,  the WJHS Radio Advisory Board, and the Whitley County College Success Coalition
  • Ryan previously served as President of the Indiana Conference of Mayors
  • Ryan previously twice served as Co-Chairman of the Mayors and Commissioners Caucus of Northeast Indiana 
  • Ryan previously served as President of the Northern Indiana Mayors Roundtable​​