Allebach To Run For Mayor Of Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Craig Allebach announced his intention yesterday to enter the Warsaw mayoral race, a position held by another member of the Republican Party, Ernie Wiggins.
"I want to offer people a choice in leadership," Allebach said of his decision. "There are things I'd like to see happen, but I'll rely on what people say they want."
As a three-term member of Warsaw Community Schools board of trustees, serving as president the past five years; Winona Lake town coordinator; chief of Grace Campus' campus security; and a retired police officer, Allebach has a long history of working with the public. He cited two recent examples of how the public's input decided events:
"When citizens said, 'Don't close Silver Lake Elementary School,' we didn't," he said of a WCS board decision last year.
"And when they said, 'No sewers in South Town,' they didn't go in," he said referring to hearings before the Winona Lake town council.
As Winona Lake's town coordinator, he is responsible for the management and oversight of operations, coordinating activities of other town employees and acting as liaison to the town council.
His grant-writing skills, honed as a member of the Warsaw Police Department retiring as chief, (1985 to 2000) brought more than $350,000 in additional funding to the town.
Allebach is a 1977 Grace College graduate and is working on a master's degree in counseling, which he plans to complete this summer.
As Grace's chief of security (1998 to present), he oversees eight officers and is responsible for the management of the department's paperwork.
He became a member of the Winona Lake police department shortly after graduation and said his return to the town as security chief and town coordinator is like completing a circle.
Allebach offered no criticisms of Warsaw's administration and showed knowledge of the city's current issues.
"Once the second wastewater treatment plant is operational, it will be a key facility to further the growth and vitality in the community.
"Warsaw is fortunate because it has a broad-based economy, although it's known as the orthopedic capital of the world. There have been lost jobs, but it hasn't had a huge impact. There's a wide commercial base which keep taxes low. Here, you get the best bang for your buck."
Although formal plans haven't been presented in public, relocating city hall has been kicked around since the police department moved to east Fort Wayne Street.
"It"s a good idea to move city hall, keeping it downtown with Zimmer and the parks. It would be nice to have one stop for services instead of traveling to five different buildings.
"There's plenty of parking where it is though. Parking availability is key to making the downtown vital."
He said he would continue the action agenda outlined by Hyett-Palma.
"The city obviously paid good money for the study. They got good input from residents and we'll follow up with what the community is saying.
"I'll rely on what the community says and work to improve the city and expand on things.
"I'll listen to what citizens say about improvements and give them a better opportunity to say things, instituting neighborhood meetings.
"Hopefully, people will give me a call. We'd like to provide a more organized chance for them to express their opinions."
Allebach's phone number is 267-4472 and his e-mail address is [email protected]
His wife of 27 years, Carol, is a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Married son C.J. lives in Ohio and daughter Cara is a junior at Grace College. [[In-content Ad]]
Craig Allebach announced his intention yesterday to enter the Warsaw mayoral race, a position held by another member of the Republican Party, Ernie Wiggins.
"I want to offer people a choice in leadership," Allebach said of his decision. "There are things I'd like to see happen, but I'll rely on what people say they want."
As a three-term member of Warsaw Community Schools board of trustees, serving as president the past five years; Winona Lake town coordinator; chief of Grace Campus' campus security; and a retired police officer, Allebach has a long history of working with the public. He cited two recent examples of how the public's input decided events:
"When citizens said, 'Don't close Silver Lake Elementary School,' we didn't," he said of a WCS board decision last year.
"And when they said, 'No sewers in South Town,' they didn't go in," he said referring to hearings before the Winona Lake town council.
As Winona Lake's town coordinator, he is responsible for the management and oversight of operations, coordinating activities of other town employees and acting as liaison to the town council.
His grant-writing skills, honed as a member of the Warsaw Police Department retiring as chief, (1985 to 2000) brought more than $350,000 in additional funding to the town.
Allebach is a 1977 Grace College graduate and is working on a master's degree in counseling, which he plans to complete this summer.
As Grace's chief of security (1998 to present), he oversees eight officers and is responsible for the management of the department's paperwork.
He became a member of the Winona Lake police department shortly after graduation and said his return to the town as security chief and town coordinator is like completing a circle.
Allebach offered no criticisms of Warsaw's administration and showed knowledge of the city's current issues.
"Once the second wastewater treatment plant is operational, it will be a key facility to further the growth and vitality in the community.
"Warsaw is fortunate because it has a broad-based economy, although it's known as the orthopedic capital of the world. There have been lost jobs, but it hasn't had a huge impact. There's a wide commercial base which keep taxes low. Here, you get the best bang for your buck."
Although formal plans haven't been presented in public, relocating city hall has been kicked around since the police department moved to east Fort Wayne Street.
"It"s a good idea to move city hall, keeping it downtown with Zimmer and the parks. It would be nice to have one stop for services instead of traveling to five different buildings.
"There's plenty of parking where it is though. Parking availability is key to making the downtown vital."
He said he would continue the action agenda outlined by Hyett-Palma.
"The city obviously paid good money for the study. They got good input from residents and we'll follow up with what the community is saying.
"I'll rely on what the community says and work to improve the city and expand on things.
"I'll listen to what citizens say about improvements and give them a better opportunity to say things, instituting neighborhood meetings.
"Hopefully, people will give me a call. We'd like to provide a more organized chance for them to express their opinions."
Allebach's phone number is 267-4472 and his e-mail address is [email protected]
His wife of 27 years, Carol, is a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Married son C.J. lives in Ohio and daughter Cara is a junior at Grace College. [[In-content Ad]]