Mayor Joe Thallemer talks in his office May 2 about the campaign.

WARSAW — It might have only been a primary election victory on Tuesday, but Mayor Joe Thallemer, a longtime member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, was looking a bit more optimistic early Wednesday.

Thallemer was up bright and early Wednesday for the Optimist meeting after celebrating the night before in what was probably his toughest electoral battle that spans 19 years in government service.

Thallemer topped city councilman Ron Shoemaker in the Republican primary, winning by a 63 to 37 margin, and will now head into the fall primary unopposed and eager to continue running one of the fastest growing small towns in Indiana.

Democrats could still slate a candidate but would face an uphill challenge to unseat Thallemer. While he realizes an opponent could still arise for the fall election, Thallemer said he’s ready to move forward.

In a post on his campaign’s Facebook page Wednesday, Thallemer thanked his wife, Jill, his campaign workers and voters.

He also referenced a need to bring the community together following a rough Republican primary campaign that was fought out primarily online.

“I’m not going to lie, this has been a long and especially grueling campaign, but the fight was, and will be worth the struggle, once we get past November,” the post said.

“All our efforts need to turn once again as a unified community to work for the betterment our city and all the people that call Warsaw home,” he said.

The two-term mayor who served three terms on city council, said the campaign was the most unsettling he’s been involved with because of the online social media attacks, especially ones from Chad Zartman, who often attends and records city council meetings.

Zartman was a strong supporter of Shomaker and claimed that Thallemer was corrupt.

Zartman is being investigated by Indiana State Police for identity deception. His phones were seized by police in March after they obtained a warrant. Zartman claims the mayor ordered the seizure. An attorney for Zartman then issued a news release announcing plans to file a tort claim notice, which would be the first step toward filing a lawsuit against Thallemer and others claiming the search and seizure was unlawful.

Thallemer said the move was “an orchestrated attempt” by Zartman who “made sure the press had it five days before the election.”

Thallemer points out the notice carries no legal weight and thinks it was a political stunt.

Thallemer was under constant attack for weeks on Facebook, including an accusation of being a racist last week. The tort claim tactic, he said, “was the low point,” Thallemer said.

Zartman has been associated with Warsaw Community, a Facebook page that ran numerous attacks against Thallemer. The page was taken down Tuesday night.

Thallemer declined to comment on the page being taken down. “I’m moving ahead,” Thallemer said.

He said he was frustrated that Shoemaker avoided debating him.  “The campaign was wacky in that I never felt like I was able to engage my opponent,” Thallemer said.

Thallemer said he appreciated that Shoemaker reached out to him after the election and expressed a willingness to work together in the future.

Thallemer said he’s ready to start focusing on the next four years but realizes he could still face an opponent in the fall election.

“Just like this last election, I take nothing for granted,” Thallemer said.  “I didn’t throw my signs away. They’re stacked up and ready to go.”