in_sen_HELMKE
WALTER HELMKE
Age: 49 Born: November 24, 1948 in Bloomington, Indiana Education: Yale University, J.D.(1973); Indiana University in Bloomington, B.A. (1970) Military: none Family: Married - Deborah; 2 daughters Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana Religion: Lutheran Career: Mayor, Fort Wayne, Indiana (1988-present); Attorney; Assistant County Attorney. Communications Law instructor, Indiana University and Purdue University |
· Republican Challenger Walter Helmke is serving his third term as Mayor of Fort Wayne, IndianaÂ's second largest city. His 1987 election was an upset for two-term incumbent Winfield Moss. In his 1995 re-election bid, he received 64.5% of the vote, matching the largest winning margin by a Republican mayor for this city. He is only the second person in Fot Wayne history to be elected to three consecutive 4-year terms.
· Helmke is currently President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He recently completed a two year term on the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities.
· As Mayor, Helmke secured funding for police hiring, but kept growth and property taxes in check. He takes the credit for the economic development that revitalized downtown Fort Wayne and lowering the crime rate.
· Helmke attended Yale with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham. Their friendship resulted in HelmkeÂ's praising and supporting many of ClintonÂ's policies, including the 1993 economic package and crime bill. The perception: many believe Helmke is more liberal than he claims to be. Consequently, he has been forced to spend much of his time convincing IndianaÂ's voters he truly is a Republican.
· Helmke first ran for Congress in 1980, but was defeated in the Primary by Dan Coats. This election is for the seat that Sen. Dan Coats ill vacate at the end of the year.
· Helmke was born into a political family - both his grandfather and father were active in Republican politics.