05/02/2026
To whom it may concern,
My name is Chris Whitehead. I am writing to offer my full support for Kris Mueller for the position of Middlebury Township Trustee.
As a now-fellow member of the Middlebury Optimist Club, as well as a fellow leader in the Optimist International organization, I have known Kris for almost 8 years, going back to my time as Lt. Governor for Zone 6 in the Indiana North District. Kris joined the Middlebury Optimist Club in 2015 and has served at the District level as Lt. Governor for 4 years, as well as served as on the District’s Finance Committee during this time.
During my term as District Governor in 2023-2024, Kris served as my Lt. Governor for Zone 2, which covered several Optimist clubs in the northern Indiana area. Leading up to this time, I had many opportunities to meet several Optimist clubs and their leadership over the years. The Middlebury Optimist Club, its members, and its community involvement always stood out to me. An Optimist club’s support in a community, and its resulting success or failure, is determined in large part by its leadership, focus, and vision. Kris, as a community leader, stood out to me as well. When Kris was co-President, the club’s active membership doubled, and the club attained Honor Club status. Kris agreed to stay on as the club’s co-President, along with Dawn Gage, for several years during COVID. Over the years, Kris has championed the club’s Trivia Night fundraiser, worked with the club’s community can collection project, and has received recognition as Optimist of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. She is also part of the 100 Women Who Care with Elkhart County Community Foundation.
As Governor, I noticed she was always true to her word and never failed to get back with me timely when asked. So, despite living two hours away from Middlebury at this time, I trusted Kris to pull off the organization and planning of the biggest event of my year as Governor, the District Convention which was held at the Essenhaus. And boy, did she deliver in a big way. As Optimists, we were treated to the Middlebury Fall Festival, including a fireworks show, the local artisans and craft booths; lunch and dinner outings at local eateries; a round of mini-golf; trips to Miller’s Cider Mill and Krider World’s Fair Gardens – in short, anything and everything we could have possibly asked for, over the course of a weekend. But none of it would have happened without Kris’s proper planning, good communication, and directness when necessary. I was in awe of her ability to juggle several responsibilities simultaneously, not just during the convention organization and planning, but in her daily responsibilities to club members and her community as well.
I fully support and recommend Kris Mueller for the role of Middlebury Township Trustee.
Chris Whitehead
Past Governor, Indiana North District of Optimist International
