Jon Costas

He will not be running for re-election in the 2019 election.

Costas has filed for re-election in 2015, and as of the filing deadline (noon on Feb 6), no opponent had filed to run.

Costas was unopposed in the May 2011 primary election for mayor. He won 68% of the vote in the general election against Bob McCasland, who ran as an Independent. Costas easily defeated McCasland in the 2007 Republican primary. Scott Smith filed as a Democratic candidate but later dropped-out because he lives in Lowell.

Costas soon began an ambitious construction program. Through 2009, the city had spent $40M on roads, sewers, redevelopment of blighted areas, the water treatment plant, and other infrastructure, with over $30M having come from state and federal grants rather than local taxpayers. The city built a new police station, started a road repair program and obtained several grants for long-delayed sewer work. The "triangle" intersection was reworked into a roundabout, the first in the area. The city condemned a derelict shopping center and engaged a philanthropic local family to redevelop it. The family, owners of Urschel Laboratories, donated half the cost of building a new YMCA on the site.

On June 2, 2008, Costas was defeated by Greg Zoeller for the Republican nomination for Indiana Attorney General at the Indiana Republican State Convention. Costas was subsequently campaign manager for Zoeller's successful run against Democrat Linda Pence.

In his 2007 and 2008 State of the City addresses, Costas credited the Plan for helping the city to obtain $20M of grants to pay for Eastgate improvements, Valparaiso Street reconstruction, improvements related to the County Seat redevelopment, and sewer projects. Costas also claims to have repaved nearly 1/3 of the city's roads, as compared to a few miles a year before Costas. He claims the city has saved $700K in insurance premiums, attracted $28M of private investment, and spearheaded the redevelopment of the former County Seat Plaza.

In 2007, Costas defeated 4th District Republican City Councilman Robert McCasland with 65% of the vote in the May 8, 2007 Republican primary. No Democrat challenged Costas, and he was re-elected on November 6, 2007. Costas continued to enjoy the support of the local labor, even though the city passed no significant union-friendly ordinances. Costas was endorsed by both major newspapers, with the Times noting that Costas "whipped the city's finances into better shape" and "created a spirit of cooperative enthusiasm in the city".

The Costas Plan, produced during the election, became the basis for Costas's goals in his first term, which included improving city planning, increasing government efficiency, building "strong" neighborhoods, and creating "quality" jobs. After a year-long planning process that included numerous public consultations, the city produced a Strategic Plan in 2005.

Costas again ran for Mayor in 2003 and won with approximately 56% of the vote, ending Butterfield's 20-year tenure. Every Republican on the city ballot won election, the first Republican sweep in at least 33 years, and no Democrat has held citywide office since. Costas carried the endorsements of the city's firefighters and police, Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO, and Operating Engineers, who historically support Democratic candidates. His campaign theme was similar to that of 1999, including calls for long term planning, controlled growth, redevelopment of "blighted areas", and more aggressive economic development to create jobs. These ideas were contained in a "Costas Plan", which was released in October 2003 and became the basis for his 2004 strategic plan.

Costas first ran for mayor against David A. Butterfield in 1999 and was defeated by 196 votes despite having the endorsement of both major local newspapers . Some analysts claim that Costas's running a positive campaign and not 'going negative' contributed to the loss. Columnist Pat Bankston wrote:

In 1995, having established a successful law practice, Costas sought and won an at-large seat on Valparaiso City Council. While on Council, Costas supported a measure banning the sale of certain forms of pornography in Valparaiso. Costas also cast a vote against allowing city employees to organize into a public employee labor union, though he received labor union endorsements in subsequent elections. In 1997, as Chairman of the Parks Foundation, Costas led an effort to raise $250,000 to buy land for a park on Silver Lake.

Costas was introduced to politics through his father's campaigns, including the father's unsuccessful campaigns for the United States Congress in 1986 and 1990. His first major public role was in 1993 as co-chair of a group opposed to a referendum to allow a Circus Circus casino in Porter County. Even though two neighboring counties approved the casino ballot measure and Costas's group was out-spent by more than 10-to-1, the referendum was rejected by Porter County voters.

Costas is the son of the late former State Senator William P. Costas, known locally for an eponymous supermarket chain. The family moved from Gary, Indiana to Valparaiso in 1972 and Costas graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1975. He graduated with a B.A. from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana and a J.D. from Valparaiso University, where he later became adjunct faculty.

H. Jonathon Costas (born 1957) is the mayor of Valparaiso, Indiana. He is a member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, an elder law attorney, and a small business owner. He was elected mayor in 2003.