Former city councilor, county commissioner Melcher dies, remembered as 'public servant'

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — During his lengthy career in local government, Stephen Melcher often began his public speeches with a simple, declarative statement.

"I'm Stephen Melcher, and I'm your public servant," he would say.

That is likely how Melcher would wish to be remembered, according to those who served alongside him. The former Evansville City Council member and Vanderburgh County commissioner died Monday at 73.

"Stephen was the consummate public servant," said County Council member Joe Kiefer, who was on the City Council and County Board of Commissioners with Melcher. "He attended hundreds, if not thousands, of neighborhood meetings and other community events in an effort to understand what his constituency needed to make our community better."

"I'm very saddened to hear of Steve's passing," said Evansville Mayor Winnecke, who was on the Board of Commissioners with Melcher. "Steve had a sincere heart for service and served our city with distinction for many years. He was a man of his word and always tried to do the right thing."

A Chicago native, Melcher graduated from Bosse High School in 1966. He served in the Army and National Guard, worked many years for local business Ohio Valley Sound, and spent 15 years as facilities director with nonprofit Community Action Program of Evansville, retiring from that job in 2011.

His jump into politics came in 1991, when he was elected to City Council in the Third Ward. A Democrat, Melcher defeated Republican Dan Carwile in an election to replace retiring Democrat O. T. "Sonny" Laughlin.

Melcher, 42 when he first entered politics, built strong ties to organized labor during his time on the City Council. He held the roles of council president and finance chair and pointed to his work on revamping city government's tax abatement guidelines.

He also spent a few years as county Democratic chairman. 

In 2008, a year after winning his fifth election to the City Council, Melcher jumped into a contest for county commissioner, running with the slogan "A Name You Know, A Name You Trust."

Melcher won 54% of the vote in defeating Republican Jeff Korb, who had been appointed to the seat. The GOP argued unsuccessfully in court that Melcher was ineligible to serve as commissioner because his nonprofit employer received federal funds.

Melcher served alongside Democratic and Republican county commissioners and worked well with both, said Kiefer, a Republican. The Board of Commissioners often functioned as an apolitical body during Melcher's eight years.

"Stephen didn’t care about the party as much as he did about the people," Kiefer said. "He worked across party lines."

Former Republican County Commissioner Marsha Abell also recalled Melcher's inclusive approach to governing.

"Steve Melcher was one of the nicest gentlemen with whom I had the privilege to serve," Abell said. "He always championed the efforts of the working people and veterans."

Abell said that when she would enter the commission chambers, Melcher "always stood until I was seated. Joe Kiefer, Steve and I did not always agree on policy, but we always agreed on civility."

In 2012, Melcher was a vocal opponent of the city-county merger effort, which was defeated by voters. That same year, he won his second term as county commissioner in an unopposed election, but that would prove to be his last election victory.

In 2014, he ran for an Indiana House of Representatives seat, losing to Republican Holli Sullivan and surviving a heart attack during the campaign.

Two years later, he lost his race for a third term as county commissioner to Republican Cheryl Musgrave.

It was thought then that Melcher's 25-year political run was over, and he said as much in an interview with the Courier & Press. 

"I look at it as probably a blessing. All my stress should be going away now. My wife (Anna B. Melcher) and I ought to be able to enjoy ourselves now," he said in 2016.

Soon, however, Melcher decided he wasn't done seeking elected office.

In 2019, Melcher surprised some observers by running for his old City Council seat. The former Democratic chairman shocked them further by switching to Republican. (Anna B. Melcher ran for the City Council seat in 2015 as a Democrat, and lost).

Stephen Melcher explained his defection to the GOP by saying: 

"Everything that I believe in is Republican — most of (it), like Right to Life and the NRA. So when I go to these meetings and everybody keeps saying, ‘How come you’re a Democrat?’ I always have to defend myself. And I finally said, ‘Well, why should I just stay a Democrat?’ I’ve always worked across the aisles.

“I just like good government. And I want people to work together. I’m not going to change. I’m going to be the same me — but as a Republican.’’

In an odd twist, Melcher spent the last six months of the 2019 campaign as the incumbent Third Ward city councilor. He was named by a Republican caucus in June to fill a vacancy in the seat.

The general election was close, but Democrat Zac Heronemus prevailed with 51% of the vote.

Melcher was an outspoken advocate for veterans during his political career and was involved with the Vanderburgh County Veterans Council.

He spoke with the Courier & Press in 2016 about his philosophy of local government.

"Under our system, everybody was treated equal. And that's been my story of my whole life as an elected official," Melcher said. "I treat people the way I want to be treated, and I want everybody to be treated equal."

Kiefer said he is a better elected official himself for having served with Melcher.

"He helped me understand the importance of listening to the public and knowing that in serving the public, we were doing our jobs as elected officials," Kiefer said. "Evansville is a better place because of Stephen Melcher’s years of service and commitment as 'Your Public Servant.'"

In addition to his wife, Melcher is survived by six children, three grandchildren, one brother and two sisters. 

Sunset Funeral Home, 1800 St. George Road, will hold services on Aug. 3. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. with the service at noon. 

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