Jim Papacek resigns from county council
Long-time statesman reflects on his career in local government
This article is brought to you by Friends to Elect Kara Kitts-McKibben.
Jim Papacek announced his resignation from the Howard County Council last week, ending a political career that spanned more than 50 years. The Howard County Republican Party will caucus to select his successor on May 8, but he is a statesman who cannot be easily replaced.
The Kokomo Lantern had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Papacek in March 2022, reviewing his career and reminiscing about events and people who made a difference in the community. Even then, it was apparent his time in government service was coming to a close.
At the time of the interview, Papacek was struggling with health issues which have persisted, but he still had a term to fulfill. Already he knew this would be his last stint on the council. When asked if he was considering another run in 2024, he immediately ruled it out.
“Not if I want to stay married,” he said. “My wife, Brenda, really didn't want me to run this last time in 2020. But (former council member) Jeff Stout called me. He was going to the courthouse to re-up his candidacy. He asked me what time I was going to be up there. I said, ‘Well, I'm not sure I'm going run.’ He said, “I’m going to be up there when they open on the first day. I’ll just meet you up there.’
“I thought, if I’m going to meet him up there, I might as well run. My wife let that one pass, with the understanding that would be my last time.”
For his successor, Papacek has a simple bit of advice.
“Just do the best job you can do,” said Papacek. “Treat everyone with dignity. And have a passion for it.”
An unlikely start
Papacek was an unusual politician. His calm, quiet demeanor and insistence upon treating people with dignity, regardless of the situation, isn’t the norm in politics. But he knew he wanted to serve in government from an early age.
“When I was in the seventh or eighth grade, I had a teacher who taught history and government, and he made the class so interesting,” said Papacek. “I thought, ‘Yeah, that's something I think I might like to do.’”
In 1971, he had his chance. A sitting Kokomo Common Councilman fell ill and didn’t seek re-election. Papacek threw his hat into the ring.
“When I started, I didn’t even think I could have been elected,” said Papacek. “If it hadn’t been an open seat, I probably wouldn't have run. I wouldn’t run against an incumbent.”
With little money or name recognition, he began campaigning by going door-to-door in Kokomo’s 5th District, hoping to find support. He found it.
“A lady who lived next door to me saw that I would go out after work and walk around the neighborhood, passing out cards and speaking to people,” said Papacek. “She said, ‘I'd like to help you do that.’ I said, ‘Sure! I'd like to have the help!’
“Come primary election day, she went to Washington School to vote. They asked her which party ballot she wanted. She picked Democrat. She came out of the voting booth and said, ‘Jim Papacek’s name isn’t on the ballot.’ She was told I was on the Republican ballot, so she asked for a Republican ballot. But you can’t do that. Once you’ve chosen a ballot, you have to use it. She came home that night and said, ‘I am so embarrassed. I don't know what I'll do If you lose by one vote.’
“I won by eight.”
From city to county
Papacek was first elected to the Kokomo Common Council’s Fifth District in 1971 and served two terms. But a career change meant leaving the council in 1979.
“A bank in Greentown hired me,” said Papacek. “One of the stipulations was moving to Greentown. They wanted me to move into the Eastern Schools district. Greentown is small, and that way I’d be part of the community.”
Not long after Papacek relocated, Ray Zirkle, who served on the Howard County Council for the district representing Greentown, developed health issues and chose not to run for re-election. Papacek stepped up and won the seat in 1982. He remained on the county council for all but two years from then until his resignation last week.
Papacek continued to work at the bank in Greentown for 10 years, but when it was sold, he switched jobs and joined Haynes Community Federal Credit Union, where he eventually became the president and CEO. But he stayed in Greentown.
“My daughter was going to school out there, and she didn't want leave,” said Papacek. “She was such an Eastern fan. She went to all the big sporting events and dragged us along. But I remained a Kokomo Wildkats fan.”
A family affair
Papacek holds his family close. His wife and daughter supported his political career, as did his parents. In fact, his mother got a little too involved on occasion, he explained.
In the late 1970s, members of the Kokomo Police Department went on strike over a contractual dispute. While a formal strike was illegal, some officers became ill, a “Blue Flu,” which put pressure on the council members trying to negotiate the contract.
Papacek was on the negotiating team, and his mother decided to help.
“My mother and father were not really political, but my mother always wanted to be in the know on what was going on,” said Papacek. “She called me one day when they were on strike. She said, ‘Well, what are they wanting?’ I said, ‘I don't know. Every time we talk to them, they want something different or something changed.’
“An hour and a half later, she called me back and said, ‘I found out what they want. I went up where a couple of them were picketing and asked what do you people want? I told them I was your mother.’ Thanks a lot, Mom.”
The burden of serving
Papacek loved serving in elected office, but it wasn’t always easy. Whether it was a contract dispute with the police, a political dispute between fellow council members, or a fiscal crisis for the entire community, he answered the call.
“I just wanted to make sure I didn't get caught up in controversy,” said Papacek. “I just wanted to look at the things and make up my own mind. You know, I wanted to listen to the people. When it got more political over issues, that's when it got tougher.”
There were certain behaviors by county officials that frustrated him, particularly when it came to the county budget.
“I will say it bothered me,” said Papacek. “I couldn't figure out why, when we came to the January meeting each year, people were already asking for additional money outside of the budget. If they did it right, we shouldn't have had to have a county council meeting for the first six months of the year. We budget money for the year. If you were there after the first month, there’s something wrong.
“When Pete Lindley and Leonard Hartman were on the council, that's the thing they always got on me for. They’d say, ‘Every time the sheriff wants money, he just comes to you. You’re so pro-police, you’ll give them anything he wants’ I thought I only gave them what they needed.”
Papacek definitely wasn’t running around with a blank check for any official who wanted it. Former Howard County Sheriff J.D. Beatty learned that lesson one summer day when he tried to lobby Papacek away from the council chambers.
“When J.D. Beatty was sheriff, he lived just down the street from me,” said Papacek. “He went past my house about every day. One day he called and said, ‘I'm going to come by your house. I'd like to sit down and talk to you about the budget.’ I said, ‘Go ahead. I'll be here.’
“It was in the summer. It was kind of a warm day. He was sitting there talking, and my wife brought us something cool to drink. And she just looked at him. She said, ‘You think it's tough getting him to spend money? You ought to live with him!’”
Honoring his colleagues
Papacek took pride in being fiscally conservative. That mindset served him well on the county council. It also brought him in line with former council president Richard Miller, who became one of his closest friends.
“I really miss Dick Miller most of all,” said Papacek of his colleague, who passed away in August 2021. “We basically thought along the same lines. I think we tried to treat everybody with dignity, and we tried to see their side of things and understand their point of view. And I tried to not let my personal feelings on a subject prejudice my decisions.”
That’s not to say the two didn’t have differences. Papacek said he was particularly frustrated by Miller’s inability to work well with former county councilman and Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman. The two butted heads regularly, sometimes to the point of disruption.
“Sometimes I got a little aggravated with the sparring that went on between Paul Wyman and Dick,” said Papacek. “But I think Dick was more frustrated with (former Kokomo mayor) Greg Goodnight and was fighting with Paul instead.”
That said, Papacek holds great respect for Wyman.
“I think the county is going miss Paul Wyman,” said Papacek. “Paul and I weren't always on the same page, but we could live with each other. I think the things that were done with COVID with the city and county, I don't know that anyone else could have got it done. He’s tireless in his service. I’ve never seen someone work as hard as he does.”
The county will miss Jim Papacek as well, but his time to move on has arrived.
“It's been interesting,” said Papacek. “I've enjoyed it, but there comes a time when you need to give it up. I really have lived a charmed life. I have been very blessed.”