AMBOY – Frank Stenzel has tried to be civic minded, and a community advocate his entire life.

Stenzel, 72, moved to Amboy from Maytown when he was six years old after his father, Roland Stenzel, passed away from surgery complications at a young age, and his mother, Jeanne Stenzel decided to move Frank and his two brothers and two sisters.

He joined the Amboy Fire Department and was active for 40 years and has been a lifetime member for 50.

After fighting fires, he decided to try city government and was the third ward alderman for six years in Amboy.

Now, is the next step as he took over as the next Amboy mayor on January 2 and was officially sworn in at the last Amboy City Council meeting on January 15 to replace the former mayor John Schamberger, who resigned in December.

“When I first joined the fire department, they came and asked me if I would be interested. The whole process used to be where you’d be voted on by members of the department whether they wanted you on or not,” Stenzel said. “You were on a year’s probation and then they voted again. I was proud to be asked and moved up the ranks all the way to chief. I loved it. The fire department is a huge family.

“I then had an interest in the city’s government. There was a seat open for the third ward, so I ran against the incumbent. I thought I’d try to see what it’s like and see how I could help the city. I was successful on my bid, and I enjoyed being an alderman. Working with John Schamberger was just wonderful. He was a really good mayor.

“Everything was running pretty well, and we were getting some things done, so I thought I’d run for another term. I was reelected and shortly after John came to me and said things were changing in his life and he was going to resign. We talked way before anyone knew and he told me, ‘I think you would be a good fit as the next mayor.’”

Stenzel, who retired as a salesman in the agriculture industry, had a heart transplant three years and has felt rejuvenated with energy both physically and mentally to assist him in his next endeavor as mayor.

He not only does he have the support of his family Karen, wife of 47 years (her father Otto Gehant was a former Amboy mayor), daughter Kim Girton, son Chris Stenzel, and five grandchildren, but he also has other city officials and administrators by his side.

“One of things I do since I’m 72, retired, and have the time, is I reach out to other mayors and cities. It has been really helpful,” Stenzel said. “They have so many ideas and they’re willing to help us. We have a good street maintenance department that is behind me. The Amboy City Hall staff is great. We have a good city board. I have a lot of support. My cousin John Stenzel is the president of the Village of Sublette Board. He has been very helpful. I appreciate his help.

“The feedback I’ve received since it was known I was going to be mayor has been very good. Everyone I have spoken to has been very positive about the situation. When you’ve been around as long as I have and was active with the fire department for 40 years, people know you. I’m approachable, I think.”

When Schamberger first brought his resignation to Stenzel’s attention, Stenzel took a month to think about becoming mayor.

After thoughts and conversations with his wife and family, Stenzel was excited to take the role to continue on the path he was already part of.

“I want to carry on a lot of things we had going. Police is a big issue in town. We didn’t have a lot of full-time police officers,” Stenzel said. “I have two people who were part-time and they will now be full-time officers. That’s a big thing for me. We’ve all been working toward hiring more full-time staff.

“The streets are also a big concern and I think we’ve been working at those pretty well. I’m all in favor of economic development, but I think we need to keep at a steady pace. We would love to use the buildings we already have standing.”

In the spring of 2024, Amboy will receive a $1 million federal grant to repair and update the city’s water lead lines. Stenzel and the city are also working on a Safeways grant which will construct sidewalks to and from the junior high addition on the high school, which happened two years ago.

Also, Schamberger is still going to oversee a splash pad and park development on the property of the old junior high, which was recently bought by the City of Amboy for $1 after the junior high was demolished.

Barring any unforeseen changes, Stenzel will be the mayor until the next general election in spring 2025.