Lawrence Deputy Mayor Dave Hofmann wants the city to continue in its recent direction.
“I know firsthand the City of Lawrence is an excellent place to raise a family and live life surrounded by wonderful people, and it’s only getting better every day,” said Hofmann, who is running for mayor. “I raised my family here and we have benefited from the great schools, parks, sports facilities, smooth roads and feeling of personal safety here. We love it here. I have witnessed unprecedented growth and improvements in Lawrence over the past seven years, and I want to ensure we stay on the right path. Mayor (Steve) Collier and his leadership team have done amazing work to improve and enhance the quality of life for all people in Lawrence.
“We are poised to keep Lawrence healthy and strong, the type of place people want to call home. “
Hofmann, former chief of the Lawrence Police Dept., is unopposed as a Republican in the May 2 primary. Lawrence Common Council members Shawn Denney and Deb Whitfield are Democrat candidates for mayor.
“During my tenure as chief of the Lawrence Police Dept., we were able to design and build the first-ever police headquarters building that was desperately needed,” Hofmann said. “Overseeing that successful project is among the proudest things of my entire career. It was a lot of work that took years but was also very rewarding. I was also pleased to equip our great officers with the best body-worn camera system in the country. We were the first in Indiana to do so in 2017, and more than 50 agencies in Indiana have since followed our lead.
“This was an important step in guaranteeing total transparency in everything our officers do.”
Hofmann said as deputy mayor and chief of staff, he has gained valuable knowledge and experience in other areas of the city’s operations. He was appointed chief of staff in March 2022 after six years as Lawrence’s police chief. He then became deputy mayor later in 2022.
“I’m so proud of our team that routinely produces award-winning budgets, plans for economic growth, wins state and federal grants for projects, improves infrastructure, manages our 11 parks, conducts community events that bring people together, designs trails that connect the city’s amenities, all while providing a blanket of safety and protection for everyone who lives, works and visits us,” Hofmann said.
Hofmann said with so many people and businesses flocking to Lawrence, it has never been more important to make sure the city’s public safety professionals are well-funded and respected.
“We must continue to invest in them,” Hofmann said. “We must also strive to ensure our streets are clean, safe and well paved. Lawrence is so fortunate that we are located directly above the purest and most plentiful aquifers in the area. Our water is safe, reliable and affordable, and we are continually improving our infrastructure to deliver it. It’s certainly not glamorous work, but our streets and utilities employees can always be depended upon to get their jobs done. That will continue under my leadership. Managing all this progress and growth is the challenge, and I am ready for it.”
For more, visit daveforlawrence.com.
