Ryan Vaughn, chief of staff for Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, will replace Allison Melangton as president of the Indiana Sports Corp, the organization announced today.

Melangton is joining Hulman Motorsports, the company that owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as senior vice president of events.

Melangton was CEO of the Indianapolis Super Bowl committee from 2008 to 2012. IMS CEO Mark Miles was chairman of the Super Bowl Host Committee.

“For more than 20 years, Indiana Sports Corp has been a huge part of my life – professionally and personally,” Melangton said in a news release. “… I love all that Indiana Sports Corp does in the community and globally to use sports as a vehicle to enhance quality of life and drive economic impact. At the same time, I’m excited for the opportunity to join Mark Miles and their talented team in executing events at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and for IndyCar.”

Vaughn, 36, was elected president by the Sports Corp’s board of directors today.

“I am humbled to be named president of this incredible organization,” Vaughn said in a news release. “The impact of Indiana Sports Corp is well-chronicled and I look forward to working with our great staff, as well as board of directors, partners, volunteers, and so many others to continue that momentum. Both Mayor Ballard and Allison are friends and have played a significant role in my career, and I look forward to working with them moving forward.”

According to the latest public tax documents available from the Sports Corp, Melangton made $65,628 for the last four months of 2012. That extrapolates to an annual salary of more than $196,000.

Vaughn made $120,000 in 2013.

Melangton joined the Sports Corp in 1994 and eventually became senior vice president of events. She is a graduate of Colorado State University.

“People go through brick walls for Allison because they know she’s not in it for herself,” Miles told The Star in 2012. “She leads by example and cares sincerely about the feelings and well-being of everyone around her.”

Melangton told The Star’s Jill Phillips in 2012: “Occasionally, I encounter men who have the viewpoint that sports events may be better run by a man, especially sports events in male-dominated sports. I have learned that in those instances, the best way to change their perspective is to do a great job running the event and that then they will hopefully change their mind, rather than trying to sell them on why women can do the job just as well. As the saying goes, ‘actions speak louder than words.'”

Vaughn, a lawyer, was the City-County council president in 2010 and 2011 and left the council in May, 2012, to become Ballard’s chief of staff. He was selected by Republicans to fill a council vacancy in 2007, was elected later that year and reelected in 2011.

He replaced Chris Cotterill as chief of staff and resigned from the law from of Barnes & Thornburgh when he moved into the mayor’s office.

During Vaughn’s tenure, the Democrats have held a majority council and Vaughn has been the mayor’s chief negotiator with the Democratic leadership on budget and policy matters.

Ballard once called Vaughn “brilliant,” and Democrats generally respect his competence.

“He has always been considered a bright young guy,” said Marion County Democratic Chairman Joel Miller.

“He is a very smart guy and highly professional,” said Councilor Jon Barth, a Democrat and council vice-president. “He is a very strong advocate for his boss and his boss’ priorities.”

When Vaughn was appointed, some political observers speculated that Republicans were putting Vaughn in line to run for mayor should Ballard not seek a third term. The mayor has not announced whether he will run in 2015 but there have been some indications recently that he will.

Miller and Marion County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Walker declined to speculate what, if anything, Vaughn’s departure means for Ballard’s re-election decision.

“I don’t think one has anything to do with the other,” Walker said. “This is a unique opportunity for him in a job that doesn’t open up very often. The skill and scope of this job are unlike those for any other job in the state.”

This story will be updated.