Natalie Rascher announces bid for Mayor of Evansville

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - An Evansville woman formally announced Saturday that she is running for mayor of Evansville.

Natalie Rascher is seeking the Republican nomination for mayor in the 2023 election.

“With Lloyd stepping down I saw that as an opportunity to bring that next generation of leadership to our city,” Rascher said.

Current Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced back in July he would not be seeking a fourth term as mayor.

“While we were considering of course the run, and a few close friends knew, we wanted to make sure we were really ready to go and have everything set up before announcing that,” Rascher said.

Rascher is currently a senior advisor at the accounting firm Clifton Larsen LLP. She is hoping her business background will sit well with voters come Election Day.

“All of politics has to do with timing,” Rascher said. “I think right now is just the right time for me.”

Rascher has already garnered the official support of Mayor Winnecke.

“It’s certainly an official endorsement of Natalie,” Mayor Winnecke said. “I think it’s really exciting to cultivate and support a new generation of leaders.”

Mayor Winnecke was at Rascher’s announcement Saturday afternoon. He said the next mayor of Evansville will need to be ready for any situation.

“I think the next mayor ought to be able to fight when it’s time to fight, and show empathy when it’s time to show empathy,” Mayor Winnecke said.

On Saturday, Rascher did not list out the points she would be focusing on in her campaign, she says that will come over the next couple of weeks on her website.

One of the key points she did highlight however was the retention of local talent in the Tri-State.

When Mayor Winnecke leaves office in 2024, both he and Rascher agreed there will be work to do on existing infrastructure projects.

“Whoever that new mayor is is going to have to step in and work with those contractors and those developers to make sure that the project continues,” Rascher said. “That’s something I feel that I can do.”

Rascher has previously run for Evansville City Council.

Other candidates that have announced their campaigns are Cheryl Musgrave and Gabe Whitley.

EPD Assistant Chief Phil Smith has filed to organize an exploratory committee to run for mayor.

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