Southern Indiana Mayor Reflects on 12 Years in Office

Last July, Evansville's Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced that he would not run for re-election. Now that his twelve years in office are coming to an end, we chatted with him about some of his most memorable moments as Mayor.

PHOTO: lib

Read Mayor Winnecke's Full Announcement Below

You might think that after twelve years of serving the public as Mayor that Lloyd Winnecke would want to take a break. That is not the case at all. After his term as Evansville's Mayor ends he will transition into his new role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP).

What Made Evansville Mayor Winnecke Emotional During His Time in Office?

I know that the Mayor absolutely loves the penguins at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, but I had no idea that one event that left him in tears happened at the zoo.

PHOTO TYMEALLO Studios

It was actually the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Engelbrecht Carousel in June of 2017. Mayor Winnecke says that he was overcome with emotion when he saw all of the children in attendance. You can tell during his speech that it's a very emotional moment.

PHOTO: youtube

LISTEN: What will the Mayor miss the most, and the least as he leaves office this year?

Evansville is a tremendous place to live, work, and raise a family. That was the case when my parents started their family here. It was the case as I grew up here, and then built my life and career here. It was the case when I decided to run for mayor 11 years ago. And it certainly remains the case as I finish my third term leading OUR city. When I decided to run I never anticipated how much I would enjoy this job. Quite simply, it has been the most fulfilling 11 years of my professional career. I expect that'll be the case for year 12 too. There is much work still to do. Despite having the very best people to serve and the consistently rewarding nature of the job, the time will come for you all to choose another person to lead this city for the next term and beyond. I will not be seeking re-election in 2023. As I finish my third and final term, much will be said, even written, about what Evansville has achieved over my last decade serving you. I hope it starts with this: nothing of any significance, specifically the work done every day to improve the lives of those who call our city home, would have been possible without a collective, unified effort by the community. Any credit I've received, any achievements my administration has had, were because of the people of this city. That will always be the case, because this is the very best city in America to live, work, and raise a family. Thank you to Carol and my family for standing with me every step of the way. None of this would have been possible without their support. And thank you Evansville for the opportunity to serve as your mayor. It has been my honor. May God bless each of you and our great city.

See How Downtown Evansville Has Changed Over the Years

I find looking back on the way things used to be fascinating. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm living through the current time period. The conveniences of answering any question we have in seconds, or ordering practically anything we want or need and having it delivered to our doorstep is pretty sweet. But, there is something fun about seeing how things around us have evolved. As an Evansville native, and spending quite a bit of my time in downtown Evansville (that's where the station is located), I've always appreciated the older architecture of the buildings around the area. So, I dug into the Willard Library Archives to see how a few of those areas look now compared to then. Some have changed a little, others quite a bit, and a few don't even exist any more. Take a look.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan

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5 Reasons to Visit Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana

There is quite an adventure on the West Side of Evansville, Indiana. What kind of adventure - It's a zoo! Mesker Park Zoo & Botanical Gardens is open 365 days a year and offers family memberships.

Gallery Credit: Liberty