Jon Costas
Encyclopedia
H. Jonathon Costas is the mayor of Valparaiso, Indiana
, a member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, an elder law attorney, small business owner, and father of four. He was elected mayor in 2003 and set a goal of making Valparaiso “one of the most progressive and vibrant cities in the entire midwest.” Costas and the city administration created a strategic plan in 2004 and updated it in 2009. The 2009 plan states that the accomplishments of the city under Costas's leadership include creating a $2M rainy day fund, maintaining minimal debt, improving the downtown, implementing a smoking ban, creation of a public transportation system, and investing over $40M in the city's infrastructure--of which $30M came from state and federal grants rather than local taxpayers.
Costas is lead singer for the band The ConservaDellics and is known for singing and playing guitar, which he did at a city meeting and atop a giant cow. He is an Ironman Triathlete
.
chain. The family moved from Gary, Indiana
to Valparaiso in 1972 and Costas graduated from Valparaiso High School
in 1975. He graduated with a B.A. from St. Joseph's College
in Rensselaer, Indiana
and a J.D. from Valparaiso University
, where he is adjunct faculty.
Costas was introduced to politics through his father's campaigns, including the father's unsuccessful campaigns for the United States Congress
in 1986 and 1990. His first major public role was in 1993 as co-chair of a group opposed to a referendum to allow a Circus Circus
casino
in Porter County. Even though two neighboring counties approved the casino ballot measure and Costas's group was out-spent by more than 10-to-1, the referendum was rejected by Porter County voters.
in Valparaiso. Costas also cast a vote against allowing city employees to organize into a public employee labor union, though he received labor union endorsements in subsequent elections. In 1997, as Chairman of the Parks Foundation, Costas led an effort to raise $250,000 to buy land for a park on Silver Lake.
Costas first ran for mayor against David A. Butterfield in 1999 and was defeated by 196 votes despite having the endorsement of both major local newspapers
. Some analysts claim that Costas's running a positive campaign and not 'going negative' contributed to the loss. Columnist Pat Bankston wrote:
, ending Butterfield's 20 year tenure. Every Republican on the city ballot won election, the first Republican sweep in at least 33 years, nor was a single Democrat elected to city office in 2007. Costas carried the endorsements of the city's firefighters and police
, Building Trades Council
, AFL-CIO
, and Operating Engineers, who historically support Democratic candidates.
His campaign theme was similar to that of 1999, including calls for long term planning, controlled growth, redevelopment of "blighted areas", and more aggressive economic development to create jobs. These ideas were contained in a "Costas Plan", which was released in October 2003 and became the basis for his 2004 strategic plan.
The Costas Plan, produced during the election, became the basis for Costas's goals in his first term, which included improving city planning, increasing government efficiency, building "strong" neighborhoods, and creating "quality" jobs. After a year-long planning process that included numerous public consultations, the city produced a Strategic Plan in 2005.
Costas soon realized that the city’s infrastructure had been neglected for years, and he began an ambitious construction program, saying that the city had to look better to attract jobs, investment, and new families. Through 2009, the city had spent $40M on roads, sewers, redevelopment of blighted areas, the water treatment plant, and other infrastructure, with over $30M having come from state and federal grants rather than local taxpayers. The city built a new police station to replace the city’s 127-year-old non-ADA-accessible station that used a broom closet as an evidence room. The city began an ambitious road repair program and obtained several grants for long-delayed sewer work. The troublesome “triangle” intersection was reworked into a roundabout, the first in the area, which continues to generate chatter in local newspapers. The City condemned a derelict shopping center and engaged a philanthropic local family to redevelop it. The family, owners of Urschel Labs, donated half the cost of building a new YMCA on the site.
Costas, author of the city’s first Ethics Ordinance when he was on City Council, backed an even stronger ethics ordinance and significantly revamped the city’s sleepy Ethics Committee into a proactive group to deliver ethics training to city employees. He appointed a Neighborhood Advocate, started a “Fit City” program, began a city bus service called the V-Line
and the Chicago Dash, reached agreement from restaurant and bar owners on a smoking ban, saved $200K by consolidating the city’s 911 dispatch with the County’s, and created several environmental initiatives such as reducing the city’s energy use and increasing recycling to 70% of the city’s solid waste (from 49%).
The editorial boards of local newspapers soon began taking note of Costas’s new style, with the Times
claiming that other cities should “follow Valparaiso’s lead” in both content and process: “Costas involved the City Council, his administration and members of the public in drafting this plan. Benchmarks were set. And then the appropriate city leaders agreed to the plan.”
In his 2007 and 2008 State of the City addresses, Costas credited the Plan for helping the city to obtain $20M of grants to pay for Eastgate improvements, Valparaiso Street reconstruction, improvements related to the County Seat redevelopment, and sewer projects. Costas also claims to have repaved nearly 1/3 of the city's roads, as compared to a few miles a year before Costas. He claims the city has saved $700K in insurance premiums, attracted $28M of private investment, and spearheaded the redevelopment of the former County Seat Plaza.
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
, a member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, an elder law attorney, small business owner, and father of four. He was elected mayor in 2003 and set a goal of making Valparaiso “one of the most progressive and vibrant cities in the entire midwest.” Costas and the city administration created a strategic plan in 2004 and updated it in 2009. The 2009 plan states that the accomplishments of the city under Costas's leadership include creating a $2M rainy day fund, maintaining minimal debt, improving the downtown, implementing a smoking ban, creation of a public transportation system, and investing over $40M in the city's infrastructure--of which $30M came from state and federal grants rather than local taxpayers.
Costas is lead singer for the band The ConservaDellics and is known for singing and playing guitar, which he did at a city meeting and atop a giant cow. He is an Ironman Triathlete
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
.
Before 1995
Costas is the son of former State Senator William P. Costas, known locally for an eponymous supermarketSupermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain. The family moved from Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
to Valparaiso in 1972 and Costas graduated from Valparaiso High School
Valparaiso High School
Valparaiso High School is a public high school in Valparaiso, Indiana. This high school is currently a four star and accredited high school, cited by US News and World Report as a "Best High School 2008". The current principal is Mr...
in 1975. He graduated with a B.A. from St. Joseph's College
Saint Joseph's College, Indiana
Saint Joseph's College is a coeducational, private, Catholic liberal arts college located in Rensselaer, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1889 by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood...
in Rensselaer, Indiana
Rensselaer, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,294 people, 2,158 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,824.8 people per square mile . There were 2,296 housing units at an average density of 791.4 per square mile...
and a J.D. from Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
, where he is adjunct faculty.
Costas was introduced to politics through his father's campaigns, including the father's unsuccessful campaigns for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1986 and 1990. His first major public role was in 1993 as co-chair of a group opposed to a referendum to allow a Circus Circus
Circus Circus Las Vegas
Circus Circus Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. Circus Circus features circus acts and carnival type games daily on the Midway...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in Porter County. Even though two neighboring counties approved the casino ballot measure and Costas's group was out-spent by more than 10-to-1, the referendum was rejected by Porter County voters.
City Councilman and first run for mayor
In 1995, having established a successful law practice, Costas sought and won an at-large seat on Valparaiso City Council. While on Council, Costas supported a measure banning the sale of certain forms of pornographyPornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
in Valparaiso. Costas also cast a vote against allowing city employees to organize into a public employee labor union, though he received labor union endorsements in subsequent elections. In 1997, as Chairman of the Parks Foundation, Costas led an effort to raise $250,000 to buy land for a park on Silver Lake.
Costas first ran for mayor against David A. Butterfield in 1999 and was defeated by 196 votes despite having the endorsement of both major local newspapers
. Some analysts claim that Costas's running a positive campaign and not 'going negative' contributed to the loss. Columnist Pat Bankston wrote:
Costas' decision to be positive rather than negative has been viewed by some in both political parties as a weakness, a lack of the killer instinct. Some have said that Costas is too nice to be a politician. Some have charged that it was a political mistake not to go after the mayor (Butterfield) on the Pratt deal when Costas had the chance. Maybe. We'll never know if Costas might have won if he had been a more typical political campaigner.
Election as Mayor (2003)
Costas again ran for Mayor in 2003 and won with approximately 56% of the vote, ending Butterfield's 20 year tenure. Every Republican on the city ballot won election, the first Republican sweep in at least 33 years, nor was a single Democrat elected to city office in 2007. Costas carried the endorsements of the city's firefighters and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, Building Trades Council
National Building Trades Council
The National Building Trades Council was an American federation of labor unions in the construction industry. It was active from 1897 to 1903....
, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, and Operating Engineers, who historically support Democratic candidates.
His campaign theme was similar to that of 1999, including calls for long term planning, controlled growth, redevelopment of "blighted areas", and more aggressive economic development to create jobs. These ideas were contained in a "Costas Plan", which was released in October 2003 and became the basis for his 2004 strategic plan.
Accomplishments as Mayor
Costas's term as mayor began with a significant reorganization of city government, including appointing a new City Planner, appointing new Police and Fire chiefs, and creating the post of City Administrator. Costas appointed the first African-American to a city board and oversaw the hiring of the first African-American police officer.The Costas Plan, produced during the election, became the basis for Costas's goals in his first term, which included improving city planning, increasing government efficiency, building "strong" neighborhoods, and creating "quality" jobs. After a year-long planning process that included numerous public consultations, the city produced a Strategic Plan in 2005.
Costas soon realized that the city’s infrastructure had been neglected for years, and he began an ambitious construction program, saying that the city had to look better to attract jobs, investment, and new families. Through 2009, the city had spent $40M on roads, sewers, redevelopment of blighted areas, the water treatment plant, and other infrastructure, with over $30M having come from state and federal grants rather than local taxpayers. The city built a new police station to replace the city’s 127-year-old non-ADA-accessible station that used a broom closet as an evidence room. The city began an ambitious road repair program and obtained several grants for long-delayed sewer work. The troublesome “triangle” intersection was reworked into a roundabout, the first in the area, which continues to generate chatter in local newspapers. The City condemned a derelict shopping center and engaged a philanthropic local family to redevelop it. The family, owners of Urschel Labs, donated half the cost of building a new YMCA on the site.
Costas, author of the city’s first Ethics Ordinance when he was on City Council, backed an even stronger ethics ordinance and significantly revamped the city’s sleepy Ethics Committee into a proactive group to deliver ethics training to city employees. He appointed a Neighborhood Advocate, started a “Fit City” program, began a city bus service called the V-Line
V-Line (bus)
The V-Line is the local bus operation in Valparaiso, Indiana. Service began on October 1, 2007 making Valparaiso one of the smallest cities in the United States to have its own independent public transit system.-Operations:...
and the Chicago Dash, reached agreement from restaurant and bar owners on a smoking ban, saved $200K by consolidating the city’s 911 dispatch with the County’s, and created several environmental initiatives such as reducing the city’s energy use and increasing recycling to 70% of the city’s solid waste (from 49%).
The editorial boards of local newspapers soon began taking note of Costas’s new style, with the Times
The Times of Northwest Indiana
The Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. The Times is the second largest of Indiana's 76 daily newspapers, The Indianapolis Star being the largest...
claiming that other cities should “follow Valparaiso’s lead” in both content and process: “Costas involved the City Council, his administration and members of the public in drafting this plan. Benchmarks were set. And then the appropriate city leaders agreed to the plan.”
In his 2007 and 2008 State of the City addresses, Costas credited the Plan for helping the city to obtain $20M of grants to pay for Eastgate improvements, Valparaiso Street reconstruction, improvements related to the County Seat redevelopment, and sewer projects. Costas also claims to have repaved nearly 1/3 of the city's roads, as compared to a few miles a year before Costas. He claims the city has saved $700K in insurance premiums, attracted $28M of private investment, and spearheaded the redevelopment of the former County Seat Plaza.