Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer announced he will not seek a fourth term as Mayor of Warsaw. He is shown sitting in his office Monday morning as he makes his announcement to members of the news media and explains his decision along with his future. InkFreeNews Photo by Deb Pattereson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

“It is an agonizing decision,” Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer stated after announcing 2023 would be his last year as mayor for the city of Warsaw. Thallemer made the announcement Monday morning after officially notifying the city’s department heads of his decision.

“It was very tough. I’ll be 68 this year,” Thallemer said noting he has spent 29 years with the city: appointed in 1995 to the city plan commission, 2000 on the city council and three terms as mayor. “It’s been the best job I’ve had and I love being an eye doctor. … I’m ready to turn this over to someone else who is capable.

“It’s time for me to thank this community for allowing me to guide it. … I look forward to the next chapter and the leadership in this community. This community has been a great community, the energy in this community, willingness for folks to get together to solve problems.”

Thallemer mentioned the foundations, organizations and neighboring communities that “value our heritage, what we’ve got, what we’ve had and knowing that we’ve got to move ahead. I’ve really been blessed to be a part of that. I thought it be best to let people know.”

Thallemer elaborated he has loved what he is doing. “I feel like I’ve made a difference.” He stated the job is relationship based and over the last 25 years he has been building relationships in the community at the state level, with municipal organizations, mayors throughout the state, commissioners and US 30 coalition. “I just really enjoy it. It (the decision) has been difficult. But in another four years, I’ll be 72 years old. How I’m going to feel then? It will be tough to walk away then. It’s tough to walk away now.

“This is a good time, I’ve got family. We’ve talked a lot. I’ve talked with other mayors. I’ve talked with folks in the community, trusted friends. I’ve talked to a lot of people about it. I just feel … I left this place better than I found it. Those relationships, I don’t want to walk away.”

Thallemer stated there are still great things to be done and the community always has a lot to do and things are not going to slow down. There are a number of projects he has begun that will be completed this year, but there are also projects he has initiated as mayor he knows will not be completed when he leaves. “We’ve got some things coming up. It’s going to be exciting, but they take time, guidance and relationships to make sure those projects get done.”

During his tenure he is most proud of the establishment and development of the Warsaw Tech Park. “It has been gratifying. It’s one of the first things I wanted to do,” he stated, adding there are great partners in the park and the city is ready to put more in. “It helps in our community with our base, it assists a lot of companies coming in and helps support our big industry here.”

Reflecting on his position as mayor, Thallemer likened being a mayor to being a stagecoach driver, sitting high above the ground and steering a team of eager horses. “I’m jumping off that stagecoach. I’ve enjoyed it.” He feels he will go out with a great taste in his mouth.

He stated being mayor is time demanding. “This is certainly a demand on your time … a 24/7 job, as you can imagine. … I don’t want to get to where I don’t have the energy to do a very demanding job. I feel like I’ve worked hard at it. I’ve enjoyed it. I love the community.” Thallemer added he has been able to accomplish much working with a good council. “It’s a great community that collaborates together.”

He admitted it will be hard to go from 90 miles per hour to zero, yet he will still be in the community. “I’ll never totally retire. I’m going to have to be doing something,” he said, mentioning he may look into volunteering, potentially assisting in areas he has knowledge.

He will also be spending some family time with his children and grandchildren in Nashville, Chicago and Phoenix. His seventh grandchild is due this year.

During his time as mayor the hardest part of his job was the COVID-19 pandemic. “When things happen, you have to put your head down and do what’s best for the community. That is what I’ve tried to do from the beginning.

“You don’t get into this job if you want everyone to like you. But you want to do what’s right for the community collectively and that’s really why I do what I do. I wish I could make everyone happy. But you can’t.”

Thallemer has built a number of relationships with organizations, foundations, business leaders and legislators over the years. This is something he feels the new mayor needs to do as well.

“I feel like I can pick up the phone and call any one of those people at any time and if there’s a need, they’ll listen because I’m not dialing someone every five minutes. I do it when it’s needed. Having that relationship, they know I’m calling about something legitimate.

“Whoever steps in here has got to have those relationships and start with the community. Start with all those groups (KEDCo, Orthoworx, chamber, foundation), go out to all the folks in the orthopedic companies. It’s critical to trust the person in this chair is doing it for the right reason.

“If he has that relationship with the right folks, they will know he’s trying to help them and do what’s best for the community. Relationships give you credibility. They know what you’re like, what you’re about and trying to do the right job.

“It’s time for Old Joe to take a little bit of a break.”