Mayor-elect Jeff Grose, right, gives a short speech at City Hall Friday, Dec. 29, after taking his oath of office from Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed. Grose’s family are sitting in the first two rows. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — People have asked Jeff Grose two questions over the past year as he ran for Warsaw mayor.

What inspired him to get involved in public service, why run for mayor? What was he planning on doing, what’s his approach going to be?

After he, Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen and all seven Common Council members took their oaths of office Friday, Dec. 29, Grose answered those questions in his first speech as mayor, though technically he doesn’t take over from Mayor Joe Thallemer until noon Jan. 1.

Thallemer did not seek re-election for a fourth term this year. District 1 Councilman Grose ran unopposed for mayor, with Juergen Voss running unopposed for Grose’s District 1 seat. Christiansen and the other six council incumbents also were unopposed in the 2023 election.

Friday’s swearing-in ceremony started with a welcome from Thallemer.

“The day is here for a lot of reasons for a lot of people. It’s a great day for the community. We’re going to introduce our new leadership today. We’re going to swear them in, and we’re going to have them pick up and continue on and take this community where it needs to go,” he said.

Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed gave the oaths of office, starting with Grose, then Christiansen, followed by Voss and Council members Cindy Dobbins, Jack Wilhite, Josh Finch, Mike Klondaris, Jerry Frush and Diane Quance.

Warsaw’s elected officials pose for a photo Friday after taking their oaths of office individually from Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed. Pictured in front, from left are, Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins, Councilman Josh Finch, Mayor-elect Jeff Grose, Councilman-elect Juergen Voss, and Councilwoman Diane Quance. In back Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen and Councilmen Mike Klondaris, Jack Wilhite and Jerry Frush. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

Thallemer then said, “I can’t keep this smile off my face. I’m so proud of what we’ve got up here, what we’ve done and where we’re going. To that end, I’d like to introduce the new mayor of Warsaw, Indiana, Jeff Grose.”

Grose began his speech by thanking everyone who attended the swearing-in ceremony, including his family; God; friends, including Dr. Steve and Jennifer Hollar; the common council and Thallemer.

He then went into the two questions that people have asked him over the past year.

“I’ve been trying to answer it. It’s all been overwhelming,” he said.

On getting involved in public service, Grose, a Warsaw Community High School history and government teacher for decades, told the story of how about 25 years ago then-Mayor Jeff Plank contacted him to serve on the Warsaw Plan Commission.

“Mayor Plank didn’t ask me. He told me, ‘Jeff, time to practice what you preach in that classroom each and every day.’ He used to visit my classroom and lecture my students: ‘Get involved. Give back to your community. Be a good neighbor and participate in a positive and productive manner in local affairs,’” Grose recalled.

Now, after 34 years in the classroom and six terms as a city councilman, Grose is getting ready to serve as the mayor of Warsaw.

“It’s truly an honor and privilege to continue being involved. Giving back to my community. Trying to be a good neighbor,” he said. “And participate in a positive and productive manner in local affairs.”

Regarding the second question on what his approach will be, Grose said, “We’ll going to find out here short term. It’s probably going to take four-plus years to figure it out. Little did we know, his (Thallemer’s) leadership and how it’s had a positive impact on this community.”

He said he wanted to stay true to one of the country’s founding principle’s of limited government.

“Adhering to this principle means that if and when government does come into play, it better be good government. Good government. Whether it’s helping a family lay to rest a departed loved one (at) Oakwood Cemetery, assisting those in great need with affordable housing, explaining how to file a building permit upstairs, offering recycling and trash removal every day or providing affordable wastewater treatment, our local government must continue to oversee these desired services for our taxpayers in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Grose said.

In speaking of local government, he continued, “We all know that the frontlines for any city include infrastructure improvements from our public works department, along with exceptional public safety services from our police and fire departments.”

Speaking on behalf of the council and clerk-treasurer, Grose said as mayor that will be their daily primary focus as they serve the community.

Grose then reminded everyone, “In this very polarized society that we live in, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Please don’t hesitate to contact the council, these are good people. Our clerk-treasurer. Our department heads. A Facebook post, coming in here and bushwhacking us, I’d say that would go against productive and efficient and serving the community and being a good neighbor. Remember, we’re your neighbors as we try to serve you and we want to address your problems and we want you to come to us, and we’re going to do the best we can and it’ll all start with my office and these very good people (council) that are sitting behind me.”

In conclusion, Grose said, “Neighbors serving neighbors while cultivating community. I like the sound of that. I think that should be our motto for the next four years in and outside of these public halls. And I pledge to step forward for you as mayor.”