Thallemer said he received a phone call from the clerk-treasurer’s office Tuesday night informing him he had won the mayoral seat.
Thallemer’s duties begin Jan. 1, when he will take over leading the city.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, who did not seek re-election has his last day in office Dec. 31.
Thallemer defeated independent mayoral candidate Jerry Opperud in Tuesday’s election.
Thallemer received 67.14 percent or 942 of the 1,403 votes. Opperud received 32.86 percent or 461 votes.
Out of 13,093 registered voters, 17.47 percent, or 2,288 voters, cast their ballot in Tuesday’s election.
Thallemer will replace Wiggins who did not seek re-election after serving as the city’s mayor for the past 14 years.
Thallemer is finishing his third term as city councilman at large, first elected in 1999. He is in his fourth year as council president.
Wiggins said with Thallemer’s experience as council president and serving on the Board of Works he is familiar with the day-to-day operations of the city.
“I have confidence that Joe will be a great mayor and I couldn’t be happier for him,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins said he also thinks it is a positive thing to have new faces that will bring new ideas on the council as well as returning council members.
Thallemer said he is excited to serve as mayor.
“Having served three terms on the council I understand its dynamics and am looking forward to working with returning council members and the new council,” Thallemer said during an interview at the Kosciusko County Justice Building Tuesday night.
Thallemer thanked his wife, Jill, Wiggins, his committee and the voters.
“We’ve got a lot of great things going on in this community and we have good economic development and wonderful citizens who work hard to make this a great community and I’m here to serve them,” Thallemer said.
He said he is looking forward to hitting the ground running on Jan. 1.
He said some of his goals as mayor are building on the city’s economic development, watching the city’s budget numbers and cutting costs when needed, and tackling the county’s meth problem.
When asked what kind of mayor he will be following in the footsteps of former mayor Jeff Plank and current mayor Ernie Wiggins, he said he hopes to bring both of their qualities to the office.
“I’d like to be the best of both. I think I might be somewhat outgoing like Jeff and I hope to be able to sit down and analyze things like Ernie has done,” Thallemer said.
