Vanderburgh County Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke who has recently made a soft announcement of his candidacy for Mayor of Evansville and will be making it official this Saturday has released his disclosure document with respect to his fundraising activities. Winnecke raised $21,435 in 2010 and spent $19,253 leaving him with $9,495 to begin his campaign. The 10 page list of contributors and itemized expenses are available for your inspection through the following link.
Treasurer Rick Davis who defied the admonishments of Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owen by refusing to defer to Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel kicked off his fundraising last fall and eventually raised a total of $12,283 of direct and in kind contributions and spent $11,700 leaving the campaign with a whopping $582 to begin seeking his party’s nomination.
Mr Davis’s disclosure document is 8.48 MB that is slightly over the 8MB limitation imposed by WordPress. It is surprisingly simple and heavy on in-kind donations. Anyone who would like a copy emailed direct please ask and we will forward it.
The City County Observer has obtained the disclosure statement filed by the Weinzapfel for Mayor Committee with respect to fundraising and expenditures. Mayor Weinzapfel’s team raised a total of $536,058 dollars last year for the purpose of seeking a third term as Mayor of Evansville. The Weinzapfel for Mayor Committee spent $367,930 of those dollars in efforts to improve the Mayor’s chances for re-election. Mayor Weinzapfel still has $774,905 that was contributed to his committee for the purpose of running for a third term as Mayor of Evansville. Now that he has announced that he does not want the job we wonder exactly what will become of the money that he raised to spend on extending his time in the third floor office on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
IS IT TRUE that at the end of 2010 the race for Mayor of Evansville had three people already raising money to seek that office?…that the fundraising activity reports were released yesterday and are quite interesting?…that current Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel raised a total of $536,058 in 2010 for the stated purpose of seeking the office of Mayor of Evansville?….that the Weinzapfel for Mayor effort spent $367,930 in efforts to be re-elected in the 2011 campaign?…that the Weinzapfel for Mayor Committee is still sitting on a war chest of $774,905?…that Mayor Weinzapfel has recently announced that he will not be running for re-election?…that we wonder how he can possibly spend $774,905 seeking and office that he does not even want?…we are very curious about where that money goes now?
IS IT TRUE that County Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke is having his coming out party to announce his candidacy for Mayor of Evansville at his alma mater Central High School this Saturday?…that Commissioner Winnecke raised a total of $21,435 during 2010 through his “Winnecke for Mayor†committee?…that he spent $19,253 and has a whopping $9,495 on hand to spend seeking the Republican Party nomination?…that Commissioner Winnecke must have breathed a sigh of relief when Mayor Weinzapfel announced he no longer wants to be Mayor because $774,905 is enough to squash anyone that only has $9,495 of ammunition to fight with?
IS IT TRUE that the man who refused to show the commanded deference to Mayor Weinzapfel, Evansville’s own Rick Davis has also been raising money?…that Mr. Davis raised $12,283 and spent $19,253 in 2010 in his efforts to become Mayor of Evansville?…that at the end of 2010 Mr. Davis is sitting on a cigar box full of campaign funds amounting to $582?…that in nearly every poll that was taken matching Davis against Weinzapfel, Davis has either won or been very close?…that Rick Davis is positioned to run a campaign that makes up for a shortage of cash with a surplus of commitment, in-kind services, volunteer spirit, and a bit of old fashioned listening to the people of Evansville?…that we also expect his fundraising to pick up as more people get on the “Pick Rick†bandwagon?
IS IT TRUE that the Democratic Party political top head hunter is trying to convince any viable candidate to run for Mayor of Evansville? ….that he has not succeeded in convincing any of the obvious candidates to seek the office of Mayor? ….if the Democratic party Chairmen is so h— bent in finding someone to run against Rick Davis in the Democratic party primary for Mayor maybe he should run against him?
IS IT TRUE we are extremely pleased with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s office and the Evansville Police Department in the way they are nabbing burglars, apprehending fugitives, and keeping drunks off the highways and streets?…that the recent career burglar that has been caught took the cooperation of peace officers from both Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties?…that by working together these forces will make us all safer? ….that the City County Observer wants to say we are very proud of your police work?
IS IT TRUE we are extremely pleased with the caliber of candidates coming forward to run for political offices in the city of Evansville? …that we feel the political change in the air?…it is our strong opinion that the “know it all attitude” at City Hall shall shall be no more the day after the election?
IS IT TRUE we want to thank the Vanderburgh County and the City Of Evansville street snow removal crews for doing an outstanding job so far this winter?…that we wish that the Weinzapfel Administration would turn these crews loose in Downtown Evansville that seems to be completely abandoned to the tyranny of the ABOMINABLE SNOW MAN every time we get a winter storm?…that the BUMBLE is rumored to be coming back today to terrorize the walkers on the streets and sidewalks of Downtown Evansville?…that Yukon Cornelius has said he won’t be coming back after his bacterial infection from sniffing and licking his prospectors pick after sinking it into the soil of Bee Slough? Pooey! Nuthin! Said Yukon as he mooshed his dogsled to the next town.
I do not know about you, but there is one theme that continues to rear its ugly head and its the poor treatment of the American people. Case in point, the current economy we are living in has resulted in record home mortgage foreclosures, record job losses and inflation in the price of goods and services throughout the United States.
What we are experiencing is an erosion of our privacy and too much government control of our lifestyle. The bottom line is, over the course of the past five years, we the American people have taken a beating. This beating has come through the passage of laws that encouraged sub prime lending, offshore jobs and manipulation of gas prices at the pump and utilities as well.
I cannot make it any plainer than I have, we the American people have been knocked down and the fact we can look up, we have to get up and fight for our rights, freedom and way of life. Why is it that the leadership in America is passionate about rescuing Wall Street but is against Main Street, hard working men and women?
The answer lies squarely on the amount of campaign contributions that fill the coffers of politicians through lobbyist for the banking, insurance and medical industries. Some of the politicians will address campaign contribution problems, but not many. The American people are left holding the proverbial tax bag, in that we bailed out Wall Street and big banks, however if you were to go to a bank for a loan or a loan modification for that matter, you will encounter rejection.
The leadership of America should not have bailed out Wall Street and left the hard working American people to struggle. If a man or woman cannot get a job, government and private industry should be creating them. All of the big tax cuts enacted by the previous administration have caused a huge vacuum in our economy because there is not as much revenue to draw upon, resulting in municipalities curtailing services such as police protection, furloughing city and county government staff and slashing school funding for our children.
Citizens of America if you want to get a job, go off shore and take little to nothing in pay to get the job you lost, after all it was outsourced to countries with sweat shop operations. Where have all the leaders gone in America, it seems as though the only important people are the politicians, big government and big corporations?
Its time for the beatings to end, its time for the American people to vote the nonperforming politicians out of office and to create jobs in America, while at the same time take your money out of the banks that acted a fool during the height of the economic crisis.
We love America, however we do not like the direction our leadership is taking us. The American people seem to be forgotten, when the next election rolls around, remind the incumbents who really matter.
Paul Lawrence Vann is an inspirational speaker who motivates people to maximize their human potential and improve their bottom line. He is author of Living on Higher Ground and is a leadership and workplace diversity expert who assist people to achieve their greatest potential. Paul has an uncanny ability to resonate with audiences, thus adding tremendous value through the experience. http://www.paullawrencevann.com
It’s always fun following our political class because you never know what they will say or what they will do that either makes no sense, is embarrassing, or has very little impact on the average American. Consider some of their recent escapades:
– “Stating The Obvious” – Former President Bill Clinton was quoted in a September 21, 2010 Associated Press article: “Do you know how many political and economic decisions are made in this world by people who don’t know what in the living daylights they are talking about?” Talk about stating the obvious. Given our continuing domestic economic situation and the fact that the political class has not solved a major issue in decades, I would say Mr. Clinton nailed this one perfectly.
– “And Who Is Responsible For This Mess?” – Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado was quoted in a Washington Post article on September 3, 2010: “We have managed to acquire $13 trillion of debt on our balance sheet. In my view, we have nothing to show for it.” The article went on to say that the good Senator voted “yes” on the economic stimulus bill, the health care overhaul bill, increased education funding and other bills that a Democratic Party-controlled Congress passed on his watch.
The economic stimulus bill has gotten us 9.8% unemployment while wasting hundreds of billions of dollars, the health care overhaul bill is already coming apart and as is its prediction of reducing the national debt, our public schools for the most part do not educate, and no major issues have been solved for the $13 trillion. Looks like the Senator’s keen insight is very compatible with Bill Clinton’s experience.
– “Now You Tell Us” – A quote from retiring Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd appeared in the December 6, 2010 issue of Businessweek magazine: “Powerful financial interests, free to throw money about with little transparency, have corrupted the basic principles underlying our representative democracy.” This quote is from a U.S. Senator who chaired the powerful Senate Banking Committee. During his tenure, he was one of the largest recipients of campaign donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the largest financial entities that he was supposed to be overseeing. To add insult to injury, Fannie and Freddie were, and are more so now, government entities that should not have been involved in any kind of campaign funding modes, lest of all with the one person who had Senate oversight responsibility for them. The Senator’s words would have had a lot more meaning if they had been spoken during his Senate tenure, as he returned the money he received from Fannie, Freddie, and other powerful financial interests.
– “Light My Fire” – The Associated Press reported on December 9, 2010, that soon-to-be ex-Governor Crist of Florida has been successful in getting a pardon for Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors. Morrison was arrested about forty years ago for obscenity during a Miami, Florida Doors’ concert. He has been dead for almost as long so it is not as if Crist was bringing solace to an old man. The Florida economy is in the dumps with higher than average unemployment and probably almost as many homes in foreclosure as there are on the market for sale.
But these family affecting crises can all wait as a politician toils on a completely useless piece of work. Just like the recent passing of Federal legislation that regulates the sound volume of television commercials, where do you think the pardoning of Jim Morrison would fall in the top priorities, concerns, and issues facing the typical American family? I doubt it makes the top 100 but it somehow lit Governor Crist’s fire, to the benefit of no one in Florida.
– “Assault With A Deadly Bicycle” – Reason magazine reported in its January 2011 issue that the town of Black Hawk, Colorado has banned the use of bicycles on most of its city streets. The local town council felt that there could be possible collisions between cars and bikes on the town’s narrow streets. Is this a big problem or top priority of Black Hawk residents? Probably not since, according to the article, there has never been a bike/car collision in the town.
– “Who Ever Reads The Fine Print Anyway?” – According to a New York Times article on July 7, 2010, when President Obama was signing the voluminous financial industry regulation bill, he said: “If you’ve ever applied for a credit card, student loan, or a mortgage, you know the feeling of signing your name to pages of barely understandable fine print.” If he cannot understand what he is signing, how confident does that make the rest of that he and the rest of the political class know what they are doing? (See Bill Clinton’s observation above). It recalls the infamous Nancy Pelosi quote that we would not know what is in the health care reform legislation until we actually passed it. (Clinton is looking smarter and smarter by the minute).
– “Talk About Gun Control” – Not to be outdone by the American political class, Reason magazine reported in its January, 2011 issue that in Queensland, Australia, they really take their gun control seriously. They are considering a statute that would require all TOY guns to be licensed. Those who fail to license their TOY guns would be subject to $4,500 in fines and… if they do not lock up their TOY guns they would be subject to an additional fine of up to $750. They are almost as good as working on inconsequential stuff as American politicians. Bill Clinton did mention politicians around the world not knowing what they were doing, looking smarter and smarter, Bill.
These are funny stories and quotes but also pathetic commentary on what and how our political class works today, to the benefit of no one but themselves. Maybe they need some help from the following steps to get focused:
Downsize government by 10% a year over five years, hopefully reducing the amount of useless initiatives and low priorities our politicians currently work on and get them focused on real issues, not efforts like banning bike riders or pardoning dead rockers. At the very least, even if they accomplish nothing with this limited to do list, we would save our tax dollars.
Revamp and re-democratize our election processes so that people like Senator Dodd would not be “tempted” by “powerful financial interests.” These steps would include banning campaign contributions from anyone or any organization except individual American citizens and not allow campaign contributions to cross Congressional district or state lines, e.g. someone living in Kansas could not contribute to a candidate running for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey.
Require all members of Congress and the Presidential administration to take and pass a course on basic economic theory to try to address Bill Clinton’s insight above. How much damage would the course to, given the poor economic track record of those in power today?
Impose term limits on all Federal politicians so that we have a reasonable chance of getting rid of the bad ones before they decide that regulating the sound volume on our television commercials is a top priority or we end up with politicians that do not even know what is in the legislation they are passing.
Notes and quotes, makes me sad and mad that we have to put up with them, despite their comic relief.
Walter “Bruno” Korschek is the author of the book, “Love My Country, Loathe My Government – Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom and Destroying The American Political Class,” which is available at http://www.loathemygovernment.com and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Our daily dialog on freedom in America can be joined at http://www.loathemygovernment.blogspot.com.
IS IT TRUE that the Mayor of Indianapolis has taken out an ad in newspapers all over the State of Illinois for the sole purpose of recruiting businesses to the City of Indianapolis?…that this ad was placed in response to Illinois’s recent increase in nearly every tax possible to increase?…that some taxes in Illinois were just increased by more than 50%?…that Mayor Greg Ballard touts fiscal stability, low taxes, cheap labor, low utility rates, cheap real estate, and numerous cultural amenities as reasons that Illinois business leaders should pack up their businesses and move to Indianapolis?…that Mayor Ballard cites Newsweek, CNBC, and Forbes to back up his claims?…that this rapid proactive approach to business attraction just might work?
IS IT TRUE that we wonder exactly what the leadership of Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville are doing to capitalize on the recent tax increases that the State of Illinois has passed?…that local leaders should have more experience with cross border competitiveness campaigns since Evansville sits on the high cost side of the money saving bridge?…that Mayor Weinzapfel should consider following Mayor Ballard’s example and come up with a letter of his own?…that if Evansville can credibly offer businesses fiscal stability, low taxes, cheap labor, low utility rates, cheap real estate, and numerous cultural amenities that business attraction should be as easy as shooting fish in a barrel?…that Evansville did get to celebrate a small win yesterday with the announcement that Sugar Steel will be establishing a steel distribution depot that will hire 26 people?…that we need 200 more projects like that to get our job base back to where it was in 2002?…that Illinois is a good lake to fish in for attracting jobs right now?
IS IT TRUE that the surprise announcement that Brent Grafton shall be running for Evansville City Council in the 5th Ward seat has surprised even “MOLE #3”? ….that present City Councilman John Friend will be in the battle of his political life with an opponent (Grafton) who has an impeccable reputation for honesty and is not afraid to state a position and stick with it?…that this just the beginning of many surprise political announcements coming forth between now and the filing deadline of February 18th?
IS IT TRUE “MOLE #3” is hearing that J. D. Strouth is thinking about running for Evansville City Clerk?… that “MOLE #3” is also hearing that Greg Stillway may be looking at running for the 3rd Ward City Council seat?…that “Mole # 3” is hearing that Lon Walters and Bill Kramer are both considering a run for the 2nd Ward City Council seat?…that “MOLE #3” is hearing that Jim Braker is giving consideration for a run for the Evansville City Council “At Large” seat?
IS IT TRUE that more candidates with different backgrounds will create better discussions, ferret out issues that may be overlooked by a group of like minded individuals, and eventually may even lead to spirited discussions on the Evansville City Council that one day result in across the board good public policy?…that we dream of such a day.
Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Maine and Iowa join 20 other states, including Indiana, as plaintiffs
INDIANAPOLIS – Today six additional states sought to join the group of 20 plaintiff states — including Indiana – that have brought a legal challenge to the new federal health care law. Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who joined the lawsuit on behalf of Indiana in May, issued this statement:
“Now that the number of plaintiff states has expanded from 20 to 26, it underscores that this lawsuit is widely understood to have merit. After the health care law was ruled unconstitutional in a separate lawsuit in Virginia that raised many of the same arguments, no one now can claim that this legal challenge is a frivolous lawsuit,†Zoeller said.
“Regardless of the eventual ruling by the federal court in our case, it is important that the states have an opportunity as sovereign entities to challenge the constitutionality of the federal government’s claims of authority. Under our federalist system, this respectful legal challenge is a proper check on the role of the federal government,†Zoeller added.
“We and the other plaintiff states contend the federal mandate that individuals purchase a private health insurance product or face a penalty is unconstitutional, and that ultimately this question should be decided by the United States Supreme Court. Having met with Hoosiers across our state, I agree that some type of health insurance reform is needed in this country, but implementing it ought to be done in a constitutional manner,†Zoeller said.
In addition to Indiana, the group of 20 plaintiff states bringing the legal challenge included Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Mississippi, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Alaska and North Dakota. Also joining as plaintiffs were two private individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
Today, the plaintiffs filed a motion with the court to amend the complaint so that six more states can join the case: Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Maine and Iowa, bringing the total plaintiff states to 26. The U.S. Department of Justice represents the federal government defendants.
On December 16, the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Florida heard arguments on the merits of the case, and Judge Roger Vinson is likely to rule sometime early in 2011. From there, the case is likely to be appealed to a federal circuit court of appeals, and from there potentially to the United States Supreme Court.
Virginia brought a separate challenge to the health care law citing similar grounds and a different federal district court last month ruled in that state’s favor, finding portions of the law are unconstitutional. An appeal is expected.
Zoeller has spent no additional tax dollars on the legal challenge beyond his office’s regular budget that the Legislature previously approved in 2009. Indiana did not pay a legal fee to join the lawsuit. No outside legal counsel was used; Indiana’s legal work has been performed by a salaried employee of the Attorney General’s office who would have been paid the same regardless of whether Indiana participated.
Before announcing in March that he would join the multistate legal challenge to the new federal law, Zoeller in February prepared a 55-page report on and analysis of the federal healthcare legislation at the request of U.S. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana. The Attorney General’s report to Lugar is found here:
The motion to file the amended complaint (adding six states) and the amended complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Florida, are found at this link:
http://www.healthcarelawsuit.us/
GAGE’s Dewey Cites Refilling Abandoned Buildings as a Priority for GAGE
(EVANSVILLE, IN) – January 18, 2011 – Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel announced
today that Sugar Steel Corporation, headquartered in Chicago Heights, Ill., has opened a
structural steel distribution center with first stage steel processing capabilities at 3350 Claremont Ave. in Evansville. Sugar Steel will make a personal property investment of approximately $920,000 and create up to 26 new jobs by 2012.
“Creating jobs and stimulating the local economy continue to be my priority. While the creation
of even a single new job in the current economy is noteworthy, the fact that 26 local residents
and their families will benefit from Sugar Steel’s decision to open this facility in Evansville is
truly an event to celebrate,†said Mayor Weinzapfel. “Today’s announcement underscores the
value of collaboration, partnership and innovation with regard to regional economic development
efforts.â€
Sugar Steel’s first stage processing services for steel beams, angles, channels, tubes, pipes,
plates, and other structural components include sawing, plate cutting, flame cutting, plate
drilling, shearing, splitting, cambering, and shot blasting for structural steel fabricators and
manufacturing customers. Sugar Steel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Steel &
Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS). Sugar Steel’s Evansville distribution center, located in the former
Patriot Steel facility, is Sugar Steel’s first operation outside of its Illinois headquarters, which
employs approximately 90 people.
“GAGE wants to identify and secure other projects like Sugar Steel, projects that make use of
existing facilities in Vanderburgh County that are currently idle,†said Debbie Dewey, President
of the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville. “More importantly, we want more projects like
this one that will re-employ Vanderburgh County residents who once worked in those facilities.â€
Local and State officials worked closely with Sugar Steel representatives to formulate an
economic development incentive package to assist Sugar Steel with this project.
For its part, the City of Evansville will offer a six-year tax phase-in on Sugar Steel’s personal property
investment. The tax phase-in has an estimated gross and present value of $40,000. Tax phase-in
allows for the gradual phasing in of property tax that has occurred due to an increase in assessed
value of a building and/or the purchase of equipment. In a six-year tax phase-in, full taxes on
improvements commence in the seventh year. The six-year tax phase-in is contingent upon City
Council approval. In addition, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered
Sugar Steel up to $175,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job
creation plans.
“Building an environment that encourages companies like Sugar Steel to choose Indiana over all
other options is our top priority and we are glad to partner with this company as they create even
more opportunities in southwest Indiana,†said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief
executive officer of the IEDC.
Brent Grafton Throws His Hat into the Ring for City Council
Local businessman and entrepreneur Brent Grafton today has announced his intention to seek the nomination of the Republican Party for the Evansville City Council seat from the 5th Ward. Mr. Grafton and his wife Bonnie own and operate Green Tree Plastics that is an Evansville based manufacturing company that uses off-spec and recycled plastics to make custom plastic castings for public and private applications around the world. During Green Tree Plastic’s six years of existence it has grown under Grafton’s leadership to a business that employs over 20 Evansville residents and keeps over four million pounds of plastic per year from being put into landfills.
Mr. Grafton is no stranger to the world of public service having served as the President of the Board of Public Safety during the City of Evansville Administration of Russell Lloyd Jr. and as an advisor to many campaigns. From an economic development perspective Grafton is a strong believer that sustained prosperity comes from the private sector and has pledged to focus on promoting an atmosphere that is conducive to inspiring economic activity from the private sector. He also acknowledges and understands that any city and especially Evansville needs to keep its basic infrastructure in good enough shape to deliver the services required to attract businesses and people.
In running for the Evansville City Council’s 5th Ward, Grafton is seeking to represent not only the residents of the 5th Ward but the Airport and three Industrial Zones including the former manufacturing facility of Whirlpool Corporation. He speaks quite fondly of the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center on Lynch Road where each year a worthy student is awarded a “Grafton Scholarship†that was named after Mr. Grafton’s grandfather who spent much of his career as the industrial arts teacher at North High School.
Another jewel of the 5th Ward in Grafton’s opinion is the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital that provides valuable and needed services to area patients. From the perspectives of both health and economic development Mr. Grafton has also expressed support for a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance in the City of Evansville. An affirmative vote for a smokefree workplace resolution would have passed in 2010 if the City Councilman from the 5th Ward would have supported it.
Mr. Grafton attended North High School and holds degrees from both Purdue University and the Princeton Theological Seminary. He and his wife are long time homeowners in the 5th Ward and would appreciate the opportunity to once again perform public service.
Lloyd Winnecke LLoyd Winnecke to Announce Candidacy for Mayor
Lloyd Winnecke will announce his decision to seek the office of Mayor of the City of Evansville on Saturday, January 22nd. The announcement will take place at the Central High School Auditorium at 11 a.m., with doors opening at 10:30 a.m.
“It’s time to restore pride in the City of Evansville,†said Winnecke. “As mayor I will work to get this city moving again through responsible budgets, eliminating wasteful spending and improving the city’s quality of life.â€
Winnecke, who has never lost an election, has served as County Commissioner since 2009 and previously served nine years on the County Council, including three years as president and one year as finance chairman. Outside of public office he is employed as Senior Vice President and Marketing Director for Fifth Third Bank in Evansville.
Community and political leaders immediately coalesced around Winnecke’s candidacy. “Lloyd Winnecke is the epitome of leadership,†said Richard Mourdock, an Evansville resident and Indiana State Trasurer. “His history as a banker is needed as Evansville and its citizens face tough economic times. His experience in the communications industry allows him to convey with confidence and eloquence a new vision needed in Evansville. I’m proud to endorse Lloyd Winnecke.â€
Winnecke will first work to secure the Republican nomination in the May primary. Party chairman Wayne Parke praised his candidacy. “I am elated to see Lloyd Winnecke enter the race for mayor,†said Parke. “He has my full support.â€
Prior to joining the bank, Winnecke spent 17 years in television news, most recently as News Director at News 25. He is married to former Vanderburgh County Commissioner Carolyn McClintock, who is a real estate agent with FC Tucker Emge Realtors. Winnecke is the father of one daughter, Danielle, who resides in Tucson, AZ with her husband Steve (a Border Patrol Agent) and their young son Holden.
Winnecke and his family are members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He is also very involved in not-for-profit organizations in Evansville. He has served on the Boards of Evansville Civic Theatre, Gilda’s Club of Evansville, the American Red Cross, the Evansville African American Museum and the University of Evansville Purple Aces Club. He is a past board member, and remains a volunteer, for the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and is a past cabinet member for the local United Way campaigns. Other past organizational involvement includes: Parks Foundation, University of Evansville Theatre Society, the Reitz Home Museum, USI Arts and Humanities and Junior Achievement.
