Jonathan Weinzapfel
Jonathan David Weinzapfel (born November 16, 1965) is an American attorney, politician and former mayor of Evansville, Indiana. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as mayor of Evansville from 2004 to 2011 and previously represented Indiana’s 76th district in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003. He later served as chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Southwest region and was the Democratic nominee for Indiana attorney general in 2020.
Early life and education
Weinzapfel was born in Evansville to Ralph and Sylvia Weinzapfel and grew up on a farm in Posey County. His father served on the Posey County Council, while his mother was executive director of the local YWCA.
He attended Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville before enrolling at Indiana University Bloomington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He later received a master’s degree in liberal studies from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Following his undergraduate education, Weinzapfel worked as a sales representative for Eli Lilly and Company and as an aide to U.S. Representative Frank McCloskey in Washington, D.C. He later returned to Evansville and worked for Old National Bank.
Early political career
In 1996, Weinzapfel became the Democratic nominee for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. He narrowly defeated state representative Rick McConnell in the Democratic primary before facing incumbent Republican John Hostettler in the general election. Hostettler won the election.
Weinzapfel subsequently entered state politics. In 1999, he was appointed to the Indiana House of Representatives representing District 76 and later won election to two full terms.
During his approximately five years in the General Assembly, Weinzapfel served as chairman of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee, Environmental Affairs Committee and Environmental Quality Service Council. He also served on committees dealing with financial institutions, the judiciary and public health.
Weinzapfel also helped establish the Southwestern Indiana Regional Development Commission, representing Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties, and served as its first president.
Mayor of Evansville
In 2003, Weinzapfel ran for mayor of Evansville against incumbent Republican mayor Russell G. Lloyd Jr.
Weinzapfel defeated Lloyd with approximately 62 percent of the vote, becoming the first candidate since Frank McDonald II in 1995 to win an Evansville mayoral election as a Democrat. He took office on January 1, 2004.
His election also ended four years of Republican control of the mayor’s office.
Weinzapfel’s administration placed significant emphasis on economic development, regional cooperation, neighborhood redevelopment and Downtown Evansville.
During his tenure, the city negotiated development agreements involving companies including AT&T, Mead Johnson Nutrition, American General Financial Services, Berry Plastics, SS&C and Casino Aztar. According to Indiana University, those agreements were credited with more than 1,500 new jobs and over $300 million in new investment.
His administration was also involved in the creation of organizations and initiatives including the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, and the Mayor’s Education Roundtable.
2007 reelection
Weinzapfel sought a second term in 2007.
He was reelected by a wide margin, receiving approximately 85 percent of the vote. His second term began January 1, 2008.
During his second term, several large public projects became major issues in Evansville, particularly plans for a new Downtown arena.
Ford Center
One of the largest and most visible projects undertaken during Weinzapfel’s administration was the construction of a new arena in Downtown Evansville.
The project was intended to replace Roberts Municipal Stadium, which had served as Evansville’s principal indoor arena since the 1950s.
The proposed arena became the subject of significant public and political debate, particularly concerning its location, financing and cost.
Construction ultimately proceeded on the Downtown site at Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The resulting Ford Center opened in November 2011, during the final months of Weinzapfel’s administration.
The arena became the home of the University of Evansville Purple Aces men’s basketball team and was intended to serve as an anchor for additional development in Downtown Evansville.
The Ford Center became one of the projects most closely associated with Weinzapfel’s eight years as mayor. Contemporary accounts of his administration also highlighted investments in neighborhood revitalization, public pools, sewer infrastructure and economic-development projects.
Decision not to seek a third term
Despite being eligible to seek another term, Weinzapfel announced in early 2011 that he would not run for reelection.
He cited, among other considerations, the amount of time that public office required him to spend away from his family. He also declined speculation that he might seek the Democratic nomination for governor of Indiana.
Weinzapfel completed his second term on December 31, 2011.
Republican Lloyd Winnecke won the 2011 mayoral election and succeeded him on January 1, 2012.
Career after the mayor’s office
After leaving office, Weinzapfel returned to the practice of law.
In 2012, he joined Faegre Baker Daniels, where his work focused primarily on economic development and municipal consulting.
In 2014, Weinzapfel was selected as chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College-Southwest. He began the position on May 12, 2014, overseeing a region that included the college’s operations in Evansville and surrounding areas.
He remained with Ivy Tech until November 2019, when he left the chancellor’s position and joined the Evansville law firm Jones Wallace LLC as a partner.
2020 Indiana attorney general campaign
In December 2019, Weinzapfel announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Indiana attorney general in the 2020 election.
At the Democratic state convention, Weinzapfel defeated state senator Karen Tallian for the party’s nomination, receiving 1,057 delegate votes to Tallian’s 1,009.
He faced Republican Todd Rokita, a former member of Congress and former Indiana secretary of state, in the general election.
Rokita defeated Weinzapfel in the November 2020 election.
Later career
In 2021, Weinzapfel served as interim president and chief executive officer of Indiana United Ways. Prior to taking the position, he had served on the organization’s board of directors and its Public Policy and Indiana Natural Disaster committees.
In January 2022, Weinzapfel joined the Indianapolis Airport Authority as general counsel. His responsibilities draw on his previous work in law, municipal government, economic development and public policy.
Personal life
Weinzapfel is married to Patricia Klineman Weinzapfel, a former Evansville television reporter. The couple have three children.
Weinzapfel has maintained longstanding professional and political ties to Evansville and southwestern Indiana, including his service in the Indiana General Assembly, two terms as mayor, his leadership of Ivy Tech’s Evansville campus and his legal work in the city.