South Bend Common Council

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South Bend Common Council
2019 South Bend mayoral election results by district.svg
Type
Type
Structure
San Diego City Council December 2020.svg
Political groups
  • Majority (8)
  Democratic (8)
  • Minority (1)
  Republican (1)
Elections
Last election
November 5, 2019[1]
Meeting place
County-City Building
Website
https://southbendin.gov/department/common-council/

The South Bend Common Council is the City of South Bend's legislative branch. It consists of nine council members, six representing a district of the city, and additional more at-large councilpersons.

History and Present Day[]

The Common Council was initiated by the incorporation of the City of South Bend on May 22, 1865. The first members were elected to the council on June 5 that same year.[2] The council currently meets in the County-City Building, a fifteen-story story building in the heart of downtown. The building houses City and County offices. For the much past several decades, the Democrats have had a majority on the council. This is partially due to South Bend's diverse and urbanized population which has traditionally favored modern liberalism.

Procedure[]

Per Indiana state law, the council may pass resolutions and ordinances. Resolutions relate to internal council procedures, while ordinances address municipal codes.[3] If a bill is approved, it is sent to the mayor (James Mueller) to be signed into law. They mayor can veto, but a six-vote majority can override this action.

Current Council[]

The Common Council currently has a 8-1 Democratic majority. There is also, as of 2021, a 5-4 female preponderance.[4] Councilpersons serve four-year terms.[5] Karen White, a member of the council since 1999, serves as its president.

District Councillor In office since Party
1 Canneth Lee 2020 Democratic
2 Henry Davis Jr. 2007–2015, 2019–Present Democratic
3 Sharon McBride 2018 Democratic
4 Troy Warner 2019 Democratic
5 Eli Wax 2020 Republican
6 Shelia Niezgodski 2019 Democratic
At-Large Lori K. Hamman 2020 Democratic
Rachel Tomas Morgan 2019 Democratic
Karen White, President 1999 Democratic

Committees[]

The council has multiple committees[6] including;

  • Community Investment
  • Community Relations
  • Council Rules
  • Health and Public Safety
  • Information and Technology
  • PARC (Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts, & Entertainment)
  • Personnel Finance
  • Public Works and Property Vacation
  • Residential Neighborhoods
  • Utilities
  • Zoning and Annexation

Upcoming Elections[]

None of the current council members have publicly announced plans to resign and most are in preparation for their next election. Republican Eli Wax, who represents the city's most rural and southernmost district is the only councilperson to face a Democratic challenger.

2021 Investigations[]

In early 2021, the St. Joseph County Democratic Party Chairman at the time, Steve Wruble,[7] requested that Mayor James Mueller investigate two council members (Shelia Niezgodski and Canneth Lee) for non-city related income.[8] His March 1 letter to the mayor asked the city to probe Niezgodski and Lee for alleged violation of city law. The letter (which was publicly released on March 5) also cited voter mistrust within the local Democratic Party, of which all the aforementioned politicians are affiliated with. Wruble wrote: “even a perceived conflict of interest can leave serious political fallout and lead to voter mistrust.” Mueller, a critic of Wruble,[9] delivered a message that highlighted the fact that the private sector jobs of Lee and Niezgodski were well known before the two were elected, and that city attorneys had previously reviewed those jobs for any ethics violations.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Decision 2020: Election Results". wndu.com. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana : Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916". archive.org. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  3. ^ South Bend City Council "South Bend City Council Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." Retrieved on October 23, 2008.
  4. ^ "Elected Officials". southbendin.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Elected Officials - South Bend, Indiana". southbendin.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Standing Committees - South Bend, Indiana". southbendin.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2021/04/29/democratic-party-chair-in-st-joseph-county-steps-dow/116620918/". southbendtribune.com. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2021/03/10/democratic-party-leader-calls-out-south-bend-mayor-calls-for-probe-of-council-members/44593977/". southbendtribune.com. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/06/st-joseph-county-democrats-give-stan-wruble-four-more-years-as-party-chai/44594229/". southbendtribune.com. Retrieved September 13, 2021.

External links[]

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