Potpourri: Shoemaker Confirms He’s Mulling A Run For Mayor

June 16, 2018 at 1:04 a.m.


OK, if you’ve been living under a rock in Warsaw in recent months, here’s what is apparently the worst kept secret in politics: City Councilman Ron Shoemaker is contemplating whether to challenge Mayor Joe Thallemer next year in the Republican primary.

Shoemaker often strikes a more conservative position on various issues among the all-Republican city council, including most recently efforts to require restaurants to properly uses grease traps or interceptors.

Shoemaker has become a favorite of Warsaw Community, a Facebook page that often makes wild assertions against Thallemer. The website recently mentioned next  year’s mayoral election and teased readers with a photo of Shoemaker and fellow council member Cindy Dobbins, saying they hope one of the two runs.

Shoemaker said he’s had numerous people urge him to run.

“Enough people have talked to me about it, one would have to think about it,” Shoemaker said. “There’s certainly a lot of issues that need to be addressed in Warsaw that people are clamoring about. Somebody needs to fix them.”

Shoemaker did not elaborate, but said a decision on whether to run will come sooner rather than later.



Fake facts – There is a screen grab floating around Facebook concerning the racetrack dispute that claims to be a list of well-known folks and business owners who supposedly pitched in to help cover the $50,000 bond needed by the plaintiffs to file suit against the Kosciusko County Fair Board.

Based on a little research, the list appears to be a fabrication. According to a court official, there are no names and certainly not a list associated with paperwork involving the bond that was filed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.

So unless, somebody cobbled together a list based on info from the plaintiff’s attorney, Patrick Murphy, we’re not sure where it would come from.

Murphy was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

The list appeared on the FB page known as “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway.”



Brauny shift – Howey Politics Indiana this week shifted its U.S. Senate race rating between Sen. Joe Donnelly and Mike Braun to a “toss-up” status. HPI had previously categorized the race as “Leans Donnelly.”

Among the comments from Brian Howey: “Braun has financial resources. He’s already running his first statewide TV ad for the general featuring his business and employees…”

Howey also said what was seen as a “blue wave” in Indiana has become a “blue ripple.”



No, Really!!! – Lieutenant Gov. Suzanne Crouch spoke at the Warsaw Rotary meeting Friday. The former state lawmaker from Evansville recapped five themes she and Gov. Eric Holcomb are focusing on: the state economy, infrastructure, workforce development, the opioid epidemic and good government service.

Concerning the last item, Crouch referenced President Ronald Reagan’s famous quote: “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

“But we are from the government and we are here to help,” Crouch told the audience. “Indiana’s government efficiency was ranked No. 1 in the country by U.S. News and World Report.”



Broken streak – With the hiring of two probationary officers, the city of Warsaw is just one officer short of having a full complement of  38 officers, Police Chief Scott Whitaker said recently.

Kelly L. Brown and Zackery A. Smith were hired as probationary patrol and joined the force earlier this month.

Brown’s hiring ends a streak of seven years the department was without a female officer. Leanne Richardson retired in 2011 after rising to the rank of detective sergeant.

Whitaker said that the number of overall applicants is down, including female applicants.

 “I?can’t remember the last time we interviewed a female for the position of a patrol officer,” Whitaker said, prior to Brown’s hiring.

Smith is an Argos High School graduate and lives in Nappanee. He attended Grace College, studying criminal justice.

Brown is a Penn High School graduate and resides in Syracuse. She attended Indiana University South Bend, studying psychology and criminal justice.

“She was a standout in this group,” Whitaker said.

OK, if you’ve been living under a rock in Warsaw in recent months, here’s what is apparently the worst kept secret in politics: City Councilman Ron Shoemaker is contemplating whether to challenge Mayor Joe Thallemer next year in the Republican primary.

Shoemaker often strikes a more conservative position on various issues among the all-Republican city council, including most recently efforts to require restaurants to properly uses grease traps or interceptors.

Shoemaker has become a favorite of Warsaw Community, a Facebook page that often makes wild assertions against Thallemer. The website recently mentioned next  year’s mayoral election and teased readers with a photo of Shoemaker and fellow council member Cindy Dobbins, saying they hope one of the two runs.

Shoemaker said he’s had numerous people urge him to run.

“Enough people have talked to me about it, one would have to think about it,” Shoemaker said. “There’s certainly a lot of issues that need to be addressed in Warsaw that people are clamoring about. Somebody needs to fix them.”

Shoemaker did not elaborate, but said a decision on whether to run will come sooner rather than later.



Fake facts – There is a screen grab floating around Facebook concerning the racetrack dispute that claims to be a list of well-known folks and business owners who supposedly pitched in to help cover the $50,000 bond needed by the plaintiffs to file suit against the Kosciusko County Fair Board.

Based on a little research, the list appears to be a fabrication. According to a court official, there are no names and certainly not a list associated with paperwork involving the bond that was filed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.

So unless, somebody cobbled together a list based on info from the plaintiff’s attorney, Patrick Murphy, we’re not sure where it would come from.

Murphy was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

The list appeared on the FB page known as “We Want Another Warsaw Speedway.”



Brauny shift – Howey Politics Indiana this week shifted its U.S. Senate race rating between Sen. Joe Donnelly and Mike Braun to a “toss-up” status. HPI had previously categorized the race as “Leans Donnelly.”

Among the comments from Brian Howey: “Braun has financial resources. He’s already running his first statewide TV ad for the general featuring his business and employees…”

Howey also said what was seen as a “blue wave” in Indiana has become a “blue ripple.”



No, Really!!! – Lieutenant Gov. Suzanne Crouch spoke at the Warsaw Rotary meeting Friday. The former state lawmaker from Evansville recapped five themes she and Gov. Eric Holcomb are focusing on: the state economy, infrastructure, workforce development, the opioid epidemic and good government service.

Concerning the last item, Crouch referenced President Ronald Reagan’s famous quote: “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

“But we are from the government and we are here to help,” Crouch told the audience. “Indiana’s government efficiency was ranked No. 1 in the country by U.S. News and World Report.”



Broken streak – With the hiring of two probationary officers, the city of Warsaw is just one officer short of having a full complement of  38 officers, Police Chief Scott Whitaker said recently.

Kelly L. Brown and Zackery A. Smith were hired as probationary patrol and joined the force earlier this month.

Brown’s hiring ends a streak of seven years the department was without a female officer. Leanne Richardson retired in 2011 after rising to the rank of detective sergeant.

Whitaker said that the number of overall applicants is down, including female applicants.

 “I?can’t remember the last time we interviewed a female for the position of a patrol officer,” Whitaker said, prior to Brown’s hiring.

Smith is an Argos High School graduate and lives in Nappanee. He attended Grace College, studying criminal justice.

Brown is a Penn High School graduate and resides in Syracuse. She attended Indiana University South Bend, studying psychology and criminal justice.

“She was a standout in this group,” Whitaker said.
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