When Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced in July that he would not be running for a fourth term in office, everyone started whispering about who would run for the position. My first thought was Officer Phil Smith with the Evansville Police Department. He is now the Assistant Chief of Police, and that caused more whispering about why he would even think of leaving that position.

I've taken the Liberty of designing some campaign slogans and signs. Phil didn't ask me to do this, clearly, I have a newly discovered talent that I need to share with Evansville.

LIBERTY / CANVA
LIBERTY / CANVA
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What is an Exploratory Committee?

A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes on before someone can run for office. Way back in the day, I actually ran for City Council in Princeton, IN. Spoiler alert: I didn't win, but I learned a bit about how politics work, and how expensive signs can be. So, in Assitant Chief Smith's situation, he told me, "I'm thinking about running but I haven't made a decision yet."

p smith / canva
p smith / canva
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LIBERTY / CANVA
LIBERTY / CANVA
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Would You Miss Being in Law Enforcement?

"If the day came when I ever left the police department it would absolutely be an emotional moment. But if I ever did I hope it will be in another form of continued service to the city that made me its son."

liberty/p smith
liberty/p smith
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Why Would You Make A Great Mayor For The City Of Evansville?

"There are some good potential candidates in Evansville that understand that the job of the Mayor is the be the leader and cheerleader for the city and its citizens as well as the region. To be the Mayor you have to understand that every day the job would be to try to make life and business better for everyone you encounter."

p smith / canva
p smith / canva
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"Creating an atmosphere where businesses can come in and hire and have opportunities to get people to work is essential. And the most important thing is the safety of the citizens and their families. Whoever is thinking about a run for that office should be thinking those things."

p smith
p smith
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I've been in public service my entire adult life. From working with students in the EVSC and continuing in the capacity of a law enforcement officer. Working for others is all I've ever done."

p smith
p smith
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Read More: Evansville, Indiana Mayor Lloyd Winnecke Will Not Run in 2023

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p smith
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Are you registered to vote in Indiana? Find out HERE.

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.

Meet the 16 Other Towns Named Evansville in the World

Towns named, Evansville are scattered all across North America from the north to the south to th east to the west and everywhere in between.

Then & Now - Evansville's Washington Square Mall Through the Years

Evansville is home to a lot of unique buildings including the first enclosed retail shopping center in Indiana. Yes, our very own Washington Square Mall was the place to be when it opened in 1963. If you walk through the mall today, you would never guess how alive the shops were, even through the 1980s. Enjoy this walk down memory lane I've put together, and maybe someday there will be new life inside 5011 Washington Ave.

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