SG STEVE GALLFor Mayor of Nappanee
Entrance to Little Paws Playground in Stauffer Park, Nappanee, with the Little Paws Playground sign above the walkway
Republican Candidate • 2027 Election

STEVE GALL

For Mayor of Nappanee

Ensuring Nappanee is vibrant, thriving, and enduring.

Lifelong Nappanee resident. 31 years as a public-school educator. Endorsed by Mayor Phil Jenkins to succeed him.

Support the Campaign Meet Steve Nov. 23 Announcement
31 yearsin public education
Nappanee RootsLifetime resident — NorthWood grad
2003Nappanee Citizen of the Year
2026Retired from Bremen schools in June
1994Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
Purdue University, West Lafayette
2005Master of Science in Instructional Systems Technology
Indiana University, Bloomington

Announcement — Monday, November 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

The Nappanee Center • Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Collection

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Why I'm Running

I care deeply about Nappanee.
And I'm the right person to lead it.

I'm Steve Gall, a lifelong resident of Nappanee. I grew up here — biking across town with friends, visiting my mom and grandpa Fred at Fred's Flowers, and watching my grandma Evelyn perform history presentations as head librarian. I attended Wa-Nee Schools, and after my wife and I finished college at Purdue, moved back. My wife Kristi and I raised our kids in Nappanee.

I spent most of my 31 years as a public-school educator commuting from Nappanee to Bremen. I taught second grade for 14 years, mentored teachers as Bremen's technology instructional coach for 5 years, then served 12 years as the elementary assistant principal at Bremen. I retired from my career in education in June 2026.

Now, I am seeking to become Nappanee's next mayor in order to make Nappanee even more vibrant, thriving, and enduring.

Mayor Phil Jenkins has decided not to seek re-election, and he has endorsed me to succeed him. I'm running because I care deeply about Nappanee, and I'm the right person to lead it.

Endorsement

Mayor Phil Jenkins is not seeking re-election and has endorsed Steve Gall to succeed him as mayor.

Steve Gall

What I Believe

Making a city better brings jobs.

Let's focus on strategically attracting jobs and people by making our city more vibrant, thriving and enduring.

Carefully invest in what makes residents' lives better, and stretch every dollar we spend to do it.

The Vision

Vibrant, thriving, and enduring

Three words, one promise: a Nappanee that stays true to itself, works for everyone, and lasts for generations.

01

Vibrant

Nappanee already has a character worth protecting. We’ll strengthen the events, downtown and neighborhood ties that bring people together and make this place unmistakably ours.

02

Thriving

We’ll keep Nappanee clean, well-kept and held to a high standard, with city services and fees that make sense, so residents and businesses prosper.

03

Enduring

Give residents a real stake in Nappanee’s future. Take care of what needs to last, stretch every dollar, and plan for the long term so this remains a place people are proud to call home.

My 31-year career in public education — teaching, mentoring teachers, and serving as a principal — and my success organizing our community to build Little Paws Playground, demonstrate why I'm the right person to lead Nappanee.

The Challenges Ahead

Real challenges.
Real experience to meet them.

Aging water mains & infrastructure costs

Replacing aging water mains and maintaining infrastructure is necessary — and expensive work. It has to be planned carefully and transparently.

Budget pressures from Senate Enrolled Act 1

I spent 31 years in public education, including 12 years as an elementary assistant principal and preschool director — managing staff and tough decisions, and overseeing preschool spending. That's the experience I'll bring to the challenges Nappanee faces as a result of SEA-1.

I hear the everyday concerns too — the cost of water and sewer, and brush pickup not running long enough. Those matter, and I'll listen.

Share your ideas

What would make Nappanee more vibrant, thriving, and enduring? I'd like to hear your concerns and your ideas.

Email Steve with your ideas

Your email goes straight to Steve at steve@stevegallformayor.com.

Rooted Here

Nappanee is home.

Along with my wife, Kristi, I initiated and coordinated the Nappanee Playground Project that led to the community-built Little Paws Playground in Stauffer Park. Kristi and I were honored to be named the 2003 Nappanee Citizens of the Year for that work. I currently serve as treasurer of the Northwood 15th Home Owners Association and am vice president of the City of Nappanee Tree Board.

All four of my grandparents called Nappanee home. My grandmother, Evelyn Lehman Culp, was the head librarian at the Nappanee Public Library for many years and started the “historical room” that became the Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Collection. My grandfather, Fred Culp, owned Fred's Flowers for decades and was a Smokey Stover with the Nappanee Fire Department for 50 years. Both of my parents graduated from Nappanee High School.

Nappanee is home. Let's keep it vibrant, thriving, and enduring.

Little Paws PlaygroundStauffer Park — initiated and coordinated the Nappanee Playground Project with Kristi; a community build
2003 Citizens of the YearSteve & Kristi Gall, honored for the playground work
Serving todayTreasurer, Northwood 15th Home Owners Association • Vice President, City of Nappanee Tree Board
Generations rooted hereAll four grandparents called Nappanee home; both parents graduated from Nappanee High School
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