JOB: Mayor, City of Evansville
HOMETOWN: Evansville
HIS RESUME: With 13 years as the marketing director and senior vice president at Fifth Third Bank, Winnecke served on the County Council for nine years, and was a county commissioner for three.
HIS STORY: In the 2012 issue of City View, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, who took office on Jan. 1, 2012, says timing is everything. The University of Evansville graduate wasted no time in getting started, putting job creation, litter and methamphetamine cleanup, and community awareness at the top of his to-do list. Todd Tucker, publisher of Evansville Business, sits down with the mayor to see how his first year went.
HIS PERSPECTIVE: “It’s a true pleasure to come to work every day trying to make the city better.”
On your first year in office:
I don’t know how else to describe it except as exhilarating, satisfying, and challenging. There have been stressful times, but the good moments far outweigh the stressful ones. Several people, including former mayors, have told me it’s the best job they’ve had in their whole lives. The people in this city are extraordinarily gracious, and if I had a nickel every time someone said, “Any time I can do something to help just call,” I’d have a lot of nickels.
On the work day:
My wife, Carol McClintock, and I are at a good point in our lives to be devoted to this job. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the pressure of time — there aren’t enough hours in the day, even though a typical work week is 70 hours. It is different to go out in public now. People say, “Hey, Lloyd!” whom I’ve never met. There’s no anonymity, and that’s totally fine with me.
On the city’s litter problem:
Clean Evansville is by far the number one thing people thank me for, as it is one of the least expensive fixes we can do for community pride. We (my administration) decided to block out the first Saturday of every month to pick up trash. As of now, we’ve picked up around 14,000 pounds of litter. Thanks to the help of Nick Ulmer, vice president general manager at 14 WFIE, we helped coordinate “Operation Hot Mess” (a trash pickup competition between Evansville schools on Oct. 13). We had more than 500 high school students helping us out, and it’s moving to see them being appreciative of making a great impact on their city.
On your goals:
I want to raise awareness, address issues, engage the community, and be as successful as possible. Opportunities like Energize Evansville are great in fighting the “fattest city in America” stereotype, and when it comes to the anti-meth platform I ran on, our task force formed of the medical community, social services, and public safety personnel has no shortage of ideas and goals. We have lobbied the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and prescription drugs are now one of its top five priorities. At the end of the day, this legislation is essential for the greater good of the community.
On how he hopes to be remembered:
I would like people to think of me as a “people’s” mayor who is approachable, down-to-earth, and likable — even if we disagree. I hope to be remembered for promoting civil dialogue, respect, and inclusion.
