In 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, Goshen residents voted 391-31 to establish the county’s first city government.

Henry Daniel Wilson became Goshen’s first mayor on May 5, 1868, serving one year. Since then, 33 mayors have led the city.

Gina Leichty became Goshen’s first female mayor in 2023. She was appointed to complete Jeremy Stutsman’s seven-year, six-month term and won re-election.

Between Wilson and Leichty, Goshen has elected 16 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Three mayors did not list political affiliations.

Allan Kauffman served the longest in the history of Goshen mayors, leading for 18 years and eight months from April 1997-December 2015. William Herbert Charnley held office for shortest time, just eight months in 1919.

Full list of Goshen mayors

33. Gina M. Leichty

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: Ongoing (June 2023 – Present)

32. Jeremy P. Stutsman

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 7 years, 6 months (January 2016 – June 2023)

31. Allan J. Kauffman

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 18 years, 8 months (April 1997 – December 2015)

30. Michael S. Puro

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 9 years, 3 months (January 1988 – March 1997)

29. Max Ronald Chiddister

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 8 years (January 1980 – December 1987)

28. Steven Regis Chisick

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 4 years (January 1976 – December 1979)

27. Ralph Bowman Schenk

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 12 years (January 1964 – December 1975)

26. Ray Bernard Messick

• Party: Not listed
• Length of Term: 8 years (January 1956 – December 1963)

25. Rollin Richard Roth Sr.

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 8 years (January 1948 – December 1955)

24. Frank S. Ebersole

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 5 years (January 1943 – December 1947)

23. Gordon Douglas Pease

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 5 years (January 1938 – December 1942)

22. Clell Eugene Firestone

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 8 years (December 1930 – December 1938)

21. John Orrien Abshire

• Party: Not listed
• Length of Term: 4 years (January 1926 – December 1929)

20. George R. Rimpler

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 4 years (January 1922 – December 1925)

19. William Herbert Charnley

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 8 months (April 1919 – December 1918)

18. Daniel Jackson “DJ” Troyer

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 1 year, 4 months (January 1918 – April 1919)

17. Samuel Franklin Spohn

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 10 years (January 1909 – December 1918)

16. Charles Kohler

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 3 years (January 1906 – December 1908)

15. Alfred Lowry

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 3 years (January 1904 – December 1906)

14. George Finely Alderman

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1902 – May 1904)

13. Benjamin F. Deahl

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 3 years, 10 months (July 1898 – May 1902)

12. Dr. Joseph H. Heatwole

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 4 years (1894 – July 1898)

11. John B. Walk

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 2 years, 4 months (May 1892 – September 1894)

10. John H. Lesh

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1890 – May 1892)

9. Charles Wesley Miller

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1888 – May 1890)

8. Philemon Doud Harding

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 2 years (1886 – May 1888)

7. Josiah B. Cobb

• Party: Republican
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1884 – May 1886)

6. Philemon Doud Harding

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1882 – May 1884)

5. Charles Bidwell Alderman

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 7 years (1875 – May 1882)

4. George Freese Sr

• Party: Republican, Prohibitionist
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1873 – May 1875)

3. Joseph A. S. Mitchell

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1871 – May 1873)

2. Melvin Barnes Hascall

• Party: Not listed
• Length of Term: 2 years (May 1869 – May 1871)

1. Henry Daniel Wilson

• Party: Democrat
• Length of Term: 1 year (May 1868 – May 1869)