There is a long history with top elected officials providing the state of government at just about all levels.

The most famous is the presidential State of the Union address, but it was not always a speech.  George Washington addressed the Congress for the first State of the Union address.  But our next president, Thomas Jefferson, thought the Washington oral presentation too “kingly” for a republic, according to historians.  Therefore, Jefferson sent a written State of the Union message.

There was no oral State of the Union address for 112 years, until Woodrow Wilson revived the spoken word in the 1913 State of the Union.  The invention of radio, and later television, brought the annual presidential address into the homes of any American choosing to listen or watch, beginning with Calvin Coolidge, live on the radio, in 1923.

It is now commonplace for top elected officials to provide an oral address on the state of government.  Indiana governors have made the State of the State address an annual event.  The Hamilton County Commissioners hold an annual State of the County speech.

In Fishers, it started as a State of the Town address provided by the President of the Fishers Town Council at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  That tradition continued when Fishers transitioned from a town to a city in 2015.  Scott Fadness, as the only mayor Fishers has ever had, provided the State of the City address.

It has just been announced that Mayor Fadness will provide his latest State of the City address at the One Zone Chamber of Commercial luncheon February 5.  In the past, the Forum Credit Union Event Center has often been the site for this occasion, but the luncheon has sold out quickly and not everyone wanting to attend could do so due to space limitations.  There was a time Fadness’ speech was held in Noblesville with more room available, but the ribbing from our neighbors to the north was a bit annoying.

Now, the new Fishers Event Center is the site for the 2015 Fishers State of the City address.  It is still a Chamber luncheon, but one would anticipate there will be enough room for all wishing to pay the luncheon fee and attend.

The only question now is, what does Mayor Fadness plan to talk about?