MITCHELL- Don Caudell, the Mayor-Elect in Mitchell, Indiana, is a lifelong Mitchell resident taking public office for the first time after a career as a successful businessman. Mayor Caudell takes office on January 1, 2024.
Mayor Caudell graduated from Mitchell High School in 1971 with hopes of a career in law enforcement. However, he attended Indiana University and graduated early with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1974. After graduation, he returned to work at Holmes Hardware, the Mitchell mainstay owned by his family, where he worked since the age of 14. Caudell took the reins for the business when his father retired at the start of 1975 and managed the store until its closing in June of 2023 after 136 years in business. “I worked with so many amazing people,” he said, “I can’t thank our customers enough for their support, but my incredible employees made it all possible.”
Caudell married his wife, Nancy, in 1974 and is the proud father of two sons and a grandfather to six. His eldest son, Matthew, is a Colonel in the Air Guard in Mississippi, and he and his wife, Jenny, have three children: Wilson, Jacob, and Jackson. The younger brother, Tyler, is an engineer at Crane in the small arms building and he and his wife Laci have three children: Rhagan, Lilly, and Emma.
He loves the small town, “Mayberry” feel that Mitchell has. He and his wife enjoy riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle and frequenting Mitchell’s best local offerings. A two-time chairman and treasurer for the Persimmon Festival since 1979, he has always enjoyed the events right outside the door of his business.
“I have a philosophy of ‘what can I do’ for people in the community, and my door is always open, ” he said regarding his political ideology. “I am not a politician, I am a public servant” he added. He is very much looking forward to the next challenge of public office. He noted his excellent department heads when asked about the transition from businessman to the mayor’s office, “I have good people in place to make the transition smooth”.
Mayor Caudell takes office on January 1, 2024.
