William Shearer’s vision for Maineville, a town spanning one stoplight and one square mile, was one of growth. Speaking Tuesday night, a little over 24 hours after his death, people who live there said their longtime mayor pushed his community to expand.
He annexed the Hopkins Senior Living Apartment Complex to grow the town’s tax base. And he was a frequent presence at local businesses and events.
“He really wanted the community to come together and function more like a family environment,” business owner Krista Hanson said. “He was an ordinary fellow. He wasn’t the normal politician. He sometimes wore a fishing hat.”
Shearer was riding a lawn mower down Foster Maineville Road Monday night when a pickup struck him from behind, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was pronounced dead at Miami Valley Hospital.
According to another business owner, Tracy Parker, Shearer often stopped by his ice cream shop to reminisce about Maineville’s past.
“The next mayor is going to have a lot to do,” he said. “Because Maineville is growing. He saw it. Was very active in it. The next mayor is going to have to be the same way.”
