By Chris Bavender
Zionsville Mayor Tim Haak, a Republican who became the town’s first elected mayor in 2016, has announced his intent to run for a second term in 2019.
“I love what I do and being mayor is the greatest job,” Haak said. “My family has lived in Zionsville most of my life and I enjoy working with our community to keep Zionsville a great place to live.”
If elected to a second term, Haak intends to focus on infrastructure improvements, parks improvements, economic growth and development and quality-of-life initiatives.
“We are partnering with local groups to increase the amount of public art,” he said. “We will be extending the Big-4 Rail Trail south to Zionsville Road and north to connect to Whitestown and eventually Lebanon.”
Haak, who grew up in Zionsville and is currently running unopposed, said he cares for the well-being of the town and that it has been rewarding as mayor to see the progress that has been made.
“The partnerships that we have with the schools, nonprofits, churches and local businesses are what make Zionsville special and keep it thriving,” he said.
Haak said his background in banking and economic development has given him a perspective of what business owners need to be successful and what their employees deem important.
“More and more businesses are focusing on relocating or expanding to areas that have a great sense of community and focus on quality-of-life issues,” Haak said. “This is where Zionsville outpaces most other communities.”
Haak, whose salary as mayor has been $120,000 since he was elected in 2016, recently turned down a proposed 2.5 percent pay increase in the Town of Zionsville’s 2019 budget proposal.
“The quick answer is that I feel like I’m fairly compensated,” he said.
In comparison, the Carmel City Council recently proposed a 7 percent salary increase for Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, which would make him the highest-paid mayor in the state at $148,786. Brainard also received a 6.5 percent increase last year.
