Ligonier Mayor Patty Fisel was named the countyâs 2021 Republican of the Year.
Both got into politics because they were disgruntled entrepreneurs.
Fisel was described during Wednesdayâs event at Sylvan Cellars in Rome City by Noble County Republican Party Chairwoman Shelly Williams as an âEnergizer Bunny,â in her role as leader of Noble Countyâs second largest city.
An entrepreneur first, Fisel opened up an antique shop in Ligonier, one of four in the community. When the economy took a huge dip in the 1990s, all four eventually closed with Fiselâs being the last.
In 2003, Fisel wanted to get back into the antique business and was shopping around town for a building to house her enterprise. She finally convinced the owner of the old Ligonier Hotel to sell.