Steve Loehr
How did your professional background help prepare you for being mayor?
I spent zero time in a political office before being elected. Being green, you tend to ask the questions that either need to be asked or haven’t been asked for some time. I spent 42 years working for GE/SABIC in manufacturing and in technology, which taught me to expect the unexpected and to think outside the box.
What have you accomplished as mayor, and what are your next goals?
I ran on making Mount Vernon a better place for the current citizens and for all future citizens as well. We have a great start, from privatizing trash service pickup to enforcing ordinances, and from revitalizing the riverfront with new activities to creating a new city app called CONNECT for better communications.
What is Mount Vernon’s greatest asset?
That is easy, THE PEOPLE!
Share some advice for those considering running for elected office.
Do it for the right reasons, not for political gain. Remember that some elected offices are not just 8-5 jobs; be available for your constituents. Decisions that you make will make some people happy, some not, so take all decisions very seriously.
Charlie Wyatt
How did your professional background help prepare you for being mayor?
During my tenure at Alcoa, I was an active member of the former Aluminum Workers International Union, (which) led me to lobby at the Indiana State House and to serve as a vice president of the Indiana State AFL-CIO. Addressing the diverse issues faced by union members equipped me to effectively handle the daily concerns of Boonville’s citizens.
What have you accomplished as mayor, and what are your next goals?
The Boonville Square’s revitalization project has instilled a renewed sense of pride. We now boast a beautiful city square with very few vacant buildings. We have successfully demolished more than 50 blighted buildings and completed almost $9.5 million in street projects. Overall, we have undertaken $70 million worth of projects. Our key goal is expansion. We are hoping to build a new sewer plant to ensure we can meet growth opportunities.
What is Boonville’s greatest asset?
Undoubtedly its citizens.
Share some advice for those considering running for elected office.
It’s impossible to please everyone. My guiding principle is to treat everyone who comes into City Hall with the same respect and care that I would wish to receive.
Brad Staton
How did your professional background help prepare you for being mayor?
I am a financial advisor. I’ve helped people achieve short-, medium-, and long-term goals by situating their money and investments in specific ways to produce desired outcomes. These skills translate nicely when dissecting a budget, prioritizing expenditures, and producing the best possible results for our city.
What have you accomplished as mayor, and what are your next goals?
We have such a great group of people holding influential positions throughout the city. Together, we’ve been able to accomplish many things: hundreds of new, high-paying jobs, a significant housing development well ahead of schedule, the grand opening of a sports complex, the beginnings of a conference center project, and dozens of huge and impactful projects from the Inner City Improvement Plan.
What is Henderson’s greatest asset?
Our people.
Share some advice for those considering running for elected office.
If you have a heart for serving in elected capacity and truly care about what happens to your city, county, state, or country, please run. Be honest, transparent, and empathetic, for goodness’ sake. Be professional and gracious. Be firm in your decisions but be a sponge while making your way toward them.
