County council president responds to GOP backlash

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.-- Dan Schaetzle is St. Joseph County Council's newest president. The Republican was elected to the role Tuesday because of Democratic votes, not his own party's.

Schaetzle faced backlash from his fellow Republicans on the council, Amy Drake, Randall Figg, Joe Thomas, and Andy Rutten, after Tuesday's vote, who accused him of cutting a deal with Democrats and betraying his party.

“In 2022, Republicans were given a historic opportunity to lead the Council for the first time," said Drake. "Mr. Schaetzle has displayed a pattern of failing to work with the Council majority to move the county forward.”

“Tonight’s vote was the ultimate betrayal by Schaetzle to his Republican colleagues and to the voters of his district," said Figg. "Mr. Schaetzle’s selfish desire to be president at all costs meant he was willing to trade the majority of leadership positions to the Democrats to ensure his installation as leader of the Council. His willingness to gamble away the Republican’s majority for personal gain is disgraceful.”

“As the remaining Republican Council Members, we remain committed to the Republican values the voters of our districts elected us on and will continue to serve the people of St. Joseph County with integrity,” said Thomas.

“We call on Mr. Schaetzle to formally renounce his association with the Republican Party as he no longer adheres to the principles we hold dear,” said Rutten.

The backlash even reached state and federal Republicans,
“As state and federal elected officials, we are extremely disappointed in Mr. Schaetzle’s vote to cede control of the St. Joseph County Council to democrats.”

“For decades, our party fought tirelessly for a majority on the Council. In 2022, we were given the ultimate opportunity to change St. Joseph County for the better. Unfortunately, last night, Mr. Schaetzle chose to ignore the mandate he was elected to fulfill.”

“Strong, principled leadership is essential in maintaining accountability and balance in local governance. While bipartisan collaboration is critical, this action undermines the foundational expectations of transparency and representation in our community.”

“We remain committed to working with the Republicans on the council and advocating for policies that reflect the values of our constituents and ensuring that decisions made at all levels of government prioritize their best interests.”

“Mr. Schaetzle should focus on advancing St. Joseph County rather than advancing his own self-interests.”

"I say that we live in an extremely partisan era," said Schaetzle. "So partisan that over the last 13 months, we have had 4 republican members of the council, a minority of 9, basically try to force their will on the rest of the council."

Schaetzle spoke with ABC57's Annie Kate Friday. He said his fellow Republicans on the council wouldn't come to the bargaining table over several issues, one of them being the future of solar legislation in the county.

"Starting last November, we had a situation where four of the Republicans decided that they were going to run the council from their perspective," he said. "I was cut out of pretty much everything they did as Republicans."

They-- of course--- see things differently.

"It's been 5 to 4, with the democrats, the 4 democrats and Schaetzle voting against Republican policies," Figg said in a call with Annie Kate Friday.

"When 4 of 9 try to push their agenda, on any government body, that's not going to work, but that's what they tried to do," Schaetzle said.

For example, he mentioned their efforts to enact a solar moratorium in the county, which ultimately failed.

"From my perspective, continuing that for another two years, and having a county council that's dysfunctional was not what I could allow to have happen," he said. "I had to do something."

And that something, he said, was reaching across the aisle, working with Democrats on solar legislation, eventually getting their votes. Schaetzle even appointed two democrats to president pro-tempore and vice president pro-tempore.

"I think bipartisanship is so important in local government because things local government does are the things that touch our lives every day," he said.

All this was to the utmost outrage of his fellow republicans.

"It matters down to your votes," Figg said. "And if you're going to vote a certain way, it's going to create friction."

Figg promised to start publicizing the results of county votes, so the public can see how members are voting. He insisted Schaetzle often did not vote with his party, but Schaetzle refutes this.

Republicans, now saying they want to move on, originally called for Schaetzle to leave the party, something Schaetzle said he wouldn't do.

"I am a conservative, I am a republican," he said, "but before those things, I am an American."

ABC57 also learned this week that charges were filed against Joe Layne for shoving Schaetzle back in November at a GOP event, but Schaetzle did not comment when asked about the charges Friday.