Spinner named new OCRA director; stepping down as Huntingburg mayor
Friday, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced Denny Spinner has been appointed to serve as the executive director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Spinner has been the mayor of Huntingburg since 2012.
“Denny brings a wide variety of experience to the state level,” Crouch said. “He has helped lead downtown Huntingburg into a vibrant rural community and his involvement at the local level will be an asset as communities across Indiana work with OCRA to find new successful strategies to further strengthen our economic growth.”
In his new role, Spinner will lead the agency as it works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistant to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for economic and community development.
Prior to his appointment at OCRA, Spinner chaired the Huntingburg Stellar Committee, which received the Stellar Community designation from the state in 2014. He is also a former president of the executive board for Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim).
“It is an honor to accept this leadership position and I enthusiastically look forward to working with the lieutenant governor and OCRA to discover opportunities to partner with and strengthen communities across our state,” Spinner said. “I believe the experience of leading Huntingburg has prepared me to bring a new vision to OCRA that can help Hoosiers realize how vital our rural communities are in truly creating one Indiana.”
Spinner replaces Matt Crouch, who was named interim director in May. Crouch will resume his duties as the deputy director of OCRA.
“I am humbled by the honor to serve you these past nine years, and by the challenge to help other small towns and cities throughout our great state see opportunity rather than obstacles,” Spinner stated today. “Thank you for your faith in me and allowing me to start a new chapter in my life.”
While mayor, Spinner established the Mayor’s Youth Council, a board of high school students who meet monthly to share ideas and pursue greater youth involvement in the community. Spinner has also been heavily involved with the Latino Collaboration Table.
A Southridge High School graduate, Spinner has a bachelor’s degree in career and technical education from Indiana State University and an associate’s degree in broadcast production technology from Vincennes University.
Spinner and his wife Shari have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
“Huntingburg will always be home. Shari and I thank you for the many special opportunities you have provided to us during the past several years. We will continue to live in Huntingburg and know that the timing is right for your next leader to continue to build Huntingburg’s future,” he said. “Huntingburg will keep moving forward.”
Mayor Spinner’s resignation is effective November 25, 2020, at 12:00 a.m.
“At that time, I will hand over the important responsibility of leading this city to my successor who, by then, will have been selected by Huntingburg Republican Precinct Committee,” he wrote.
Republican committee members in districts that vote Huntingburg mayor will hear comments from eligible candidates and vote on a successor to Mayor Spinner.
