City Attorney Ends Long Career With Thanks, A Few Choice Words
City Attorney Ends Long Career With Thanks, A Few Choice Words
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Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
City Attorney Ends Long Career With Thanks, A Few Choice WordsMike Valentine got the last word.
As an attorney, Valentine gets paid for his advice. On Monday, as he entered his final few days as the long-serving city attorney, he had some free advice for city council members.
The 73-year-old Warsaw native, who grew up on South Lake Street, worked for three mayors over a span of 33 years and was known to occasionally interject some strong advice.
At Monday’s city council meeting, he thanked city leaders for the chance to serve the city and then ventured into political territory he rarely visited while on the clock.
While not mentioning anyone by name, Valentine told council members to hold their heads up and ignore the distractions.
Valentine told council he believes the city is in great hands under Mayor Joe Thallemer, Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen and council’s leadership “in spite of what I see as some very unfair criticism.”
He urged council to continue to be courageous and “do right” without any consideration of the political consequences.
“Don’t listen to the noise from the few in this city who have their own political agenda – none of which is positive and all of which is negative and designed to divide you,” Valentine said Monday.
Thallemer, who has come to expect strong opinions from Valentine, knew Valentine would offer a few choice words as he prepared to depart.
“Sometimes, he gets a little excitable and I think that that’s just a sign that he’s passionate about the city,” Thallemer said.
Valentine announced in July that he planned to retire at the end of the year. Scott Reust has been named to replace Valentine, and the two have been working together as Reust eases his way into the new role.
Valentine is probably one of the few employees in city hall whose work has spanned three mayors.
Valentine served more than four years in the U.S. Army and was an adviser in Vietnam before heading to Indiana University law school in Indianapolis and getting his law degree in 1974.
He said he really liked the critical analysis and problem solving that comes with the law profession and was eager to start a law firm in his hometown.
By 1984, he was chosen by then-Mayor Jeff Plank to serve as city attorney. Plank later replaced him with Steve Snyder, but Valentine returned during Ernie Wiggins’ administration and continued when Thallemer was elected in 2011.
Valentine said each of the three mayors varied in style, but have been good for the city.
Plank, he said, was a creative, forward-thinking leader.
“Ernie kept things together and really managed the city well, kept it moving in the right direction, and then Joe came along. He has a dynamic that is similar to Plank in a lot of ways,” Valentine said. “He sees projects and moves on them. He works like a dog.”
Valentine has continued his private practice while serving the city, but said he believes he’s been busier during the Thallemer administration.
As one might guess, part of the role of city attorneys involves litigation involving the city.
Valentine was involved in litigation when Marsh Supermarkets bid against Zimmer for the right to acquire and build anew where the old Freshman High School was south of Center Lake.
Eventually, the city won the right to award Zimmer the property. Zimmer Biomet’s world headquarters now overlooks Center Lake. Marsh then chose to build a new store where Murphy Medical Center had been.
