Charges filed vs. mayor surprises colleagues
Colleagues expressed shock Thursday upon learning longtime Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura had been charged with wire fraud and filing a false income tax return after allegedly using $255,000 in campaign funds for personal use.
He is expected to step down from his position.
U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II in a release announced Stahura, 64, has entered into a plea agreement indicated his intent to plead guilty to both charges. His wife, Diane Stahura, 64, also of Whiting, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement wherein she acknowledged the government has sufficient evidence to charge her with wire fraud.
Second-term Whiting City Councilman Tom Michniewicz, D-3rd, expressed surprise at the news. Michniewicz said Stathura sent councilmembers a personal email to inform them of the charges and his intended resignation.
“I’m shocked to read about it. That’s all I can say right now. I really have no words. I have to filter it first,” Michniewicz said.
Stahura and his administration are credited with revitalizing the city’s lakefront and bringing the NWI Oilmen minor league baseball team and Mascot Hall of Fame among other amenities to the city.
“I know he did a lot of good for the city.
He really helped the city grow,” Michniewicz said.
Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, said he was “completely shocked and deeply saddened” by the news.
“In my book Joe Stahura is one of the greatest mayors Northwest Indiana has seen with his love for his community and his vision for what Whiting could become,”
Batistatos said.
He said that kind of passion is shared by a handful of mayors like David Uran in Crown Point, Brian Snedecor in Hobart, Thomas McDermott Jr. in Hammond, Anthony Copeland in East Chicago and Jerome Prince in Gary.
Stahura substantly moved the needle on the community creating a destination the tourism authority was able to wake up everyday and go sell to the rest of the country, Batistatos said.
“It was always to him about putting Whiting first. He will be missed,” he said.
Thomas Dabertin, co-founder of the city’s Pierogi Fest and a board member with the Whiting/Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce, said it is always unfortunate and difficult when an elected official is charged with wrongdoing.
“It was a shock to everybody, me included, but these things happen,” Dabertin said.
“He certainly got a lot accomplished as mayor. His biggest accomplishment is the lakefront,” he said.
The lakefront had been in disrepair for many years. Working through the Regional Development Authority, Stahura was able to revitalize the lakefront and make it a gem in the region.
Dabertin said the charges do not negate the positive legacy he will leave in the city, but his personal legacy and reputation having to leave under office under these circumstances will be diminished.
“These things happen. People make mistakes,” Dabertin said
“At the end of the day, Whiting has a lot to offer and we will continue to move forward,” Dabertin said.