Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and I have some things in common, and there are some things we do not have in common.

 

Things we have in common:

–We both love Diet Coke

–We are not golf fans

— We both like government and neither of us sought a career running for office

 

Here’s what Scott Fadness & I do not have in common:

–He is a lot younger than I

–He is in much better physical shape

–Even though he didn’t seek a career running for office, he was coaxed into it and won the mayor’s office

 

When Lindsey Erdody wrote a profile of Scott Fadness for the latest edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal, she asked to talk with me about our mayor, since I have covered him going back to January of 2012 when he was Fishers Town Manager.

When the big debate was on during the fall of 2012 about what type of government the growing suburb of Fishers would have going forward, there were three choices placed before voters – continue as a town, become a “reorganized” city with a weak mayor and powerful city council, or a traditional Indiana city with a strong mayor’s office.

Voters chose the strong mayor’s office.  But Fadness was a very popular town manager. People advocating for a “reorganized” city made a major argument that Scott Fadness, as one trained as an administrator, would leave Fishers if we moved to a strong mayor’s office.

Once the results were in and voters in the referendum overwhelmingly approved a strong mayor’s office, I noticed something.  Scott Fadness did not leave.  He remained as town manager.  He obviously knew there would be a mayoral election coming, but he did not choose to move on.

One of the first conversations I had with Scott Fadness was in the Town Hall (were were still a town then) parking lot.  I point blank asked him why he was still here with a city election on the way.  He talked about how wonderful Fishers was as a place to live.  As he was talking I realized something.  Scott Fadness was at least considering a run for Mayor of Fishers, something he had previously shown no interest in pursuing.  It was just a few months later Fadness announced his exploratory committee for a mayoral run.

It was an honor to be quoted in Lindsey’s IBJ story.  She followed him around for the better part of a day.  I’m shocked she was able to keep up with the mayor.  It’s a good thing Lindsey is an avid runner.

When I retired after 28 years in the federal civil service, I remembered how much I missed journalism.  There was no desire on my part to go work for someone else as a reporter…besides, that is a young person’s business these days.  But I found the newspapers in Noblesville that had covered Fishers municipal government and our local schools had stopped publishing.  The weekly Current does the best it can with the news space it is provided. The Indy Star and local TV stations occasionally cover Fishers news, but regular coverage is lacking.

It’s always been my view that public bodies such as city councils and school boards do business differently if they know an independent journalist is there covering the event.  So I took it upon myself to attend the meetings and start writing about Fishers local government & schools.

Scott Fadness has been at the center of activity for municipal government the entire time I have been doing this.  First, I covered his work as Fishers Town Manager, then his campaigns for mayor.  FYI, the first city election was transitional, for one year terms, and there were six candidates for mayor.  A year later there was balloting for the normal 4-year terms, and Scott Fadness had no opposition in the Republican primary or the general election.

Scott Fadness has shaped the growth of this city.  As town manager, he and John Wechsler pushed for Launch Fishers, which has been a big  success by any measure.  He has had huge economic development successes, with IKEA the biggest feather in his cap.  He has pushed mental health in the city based on data he saw every week as town manager and mayor.

I could go on and on, but Scott Fadness has shaped the growing suburban community of Fishers.  He firmly believes cities are never standing still, they either are moving forward or backward.  Fadness has made it clear he plans on moving forward.

I am reminded of the old Will Rogers quote – “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

Fadness continues to enjoy public support.  But there are some that long for the old days of Fishers as a small town.  I get that, understand that, but recognize the old Fishers is gone and there is nothing anyone could do to bring that back.

I am often asked whether Scott Fadness will run for another term.  He was noncommittal when Lindsey asked that question.  Politics can often take unexpected twists and turns. Two years ago, could you have imagined Eric Holcomb as governor and Mike Pence as Vice President?  Predictions are shaky at best in the political world.  But I will say it is likely Scott Fadness will run for at least one more term as mayor.  I don’t seen him as a Jim Brainard, serving six terms as Carmel’s mayor.  But he may have one more term to complete the vision he has for the city he has been instrumental in shaping.

Scott Fadness and I have some things in common and some things we don’t have in common.  But we have one major common view.  We both love Fishers and want it to be the best place possible.

You can read Lindsey Erdody’s profile of Scott Fadness at this link