Democrats running for South Bend mayor, council and clerk to debate in coming weeks
SOUTH BEND ― A debate this week between two Democrats running for mayor is the first in a series of chances for voters to judge candidates vying for primary election bids.
South Bend Mayor James Mueller faces a challenge for the Democratic primary bid from Henry Davis Jr., who is in his third term representing the 2nd District on the South Bend Common Council.
The two will debate Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Indiana University South Bend Education & Arts Building, Room 1011. The address is 1002 S. Esther St.
A debate among Democratic South Bend city clerk candidates is to be held March 21 at 7 p.m. Incumbent Dawn Jones is challenged by Bianca Tirado and Jason Banicki. The debate is to be held in IUSB’s Wiekamp Hall, at 1800 E. Mishawaka Ave.
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The last debate of this series, also in Wiekamp Hall, will feature five candidates for three at-large Common Council seats. On March 28 at 7 p.m., incumbent at-large councilors Lori Hamann, Rachel Tomas Morgan and Karen White will debate challengers Oliver Davis Jr. and LaQuita Hughes.
Voters can attend the debates in person or watch the televised versions live on My Michiana TV or ABC57.com.
Those who come to IUSB to watch should arrive by 6:45 p.m. and are encouraged to stay for a networking reception following each debate. Attendees of the March 21 and March 28 debates can park in the IUSB garage at 1850 Mishawaka Ave. For the mayoral debate, parking is available in the Esther Street lots behind the venue.
To submit questions for consideration, send an email at least 48 hours before the relevant debate to iusbadp@iusb.edu. The debates are sponsored by the American Democracy Project, the IUSB Political Science Club and the League of Women Voters.
The primary election is Tuesday, May 2.
All but one of the South Bend offices on the ballot is held by a Democrat. Eli Wax, the 5th District member of the Common Council, is the lone Republican and faces no primary challenger. There are Republican challengers for some city offices, such as Desmont Upchurch for mayor, but none face an opponent in the primary. This means Republican candidates aren't relevant at the polls until the November general election.
An overview of the candidates
First elected in 2007, Davis, 43, has served for nearly 12 years on the Common Council. He lost a primary bid for mayor in 2015 against then-incumbent Pete Buttigieg.
Mueller has been mayor since January 2020. Before holding the office, he served in the Buttigieg administration as chief of staff and director of community investment.
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Democratic precinct committee members appointed Jones city clerk in a 2019 special caucus. Tirado was also a candidate then but was bested by Jones.
In recent months, however, Common Council President Sharon McBride, several other city councilors and the mayor have criticized Jones’ performance.
Meanwhile, the council has contracted with Tirado for nearly a year to do clerical work and to function as a liaison to the clerk’s office. Tirado worked as deputy clerk for four years until resigning in April 2022. Now she makes at least $6,000 a month to support the council, under the contract.
Jones argues that paying Tirado to work on behalf of the council is unethical, given that Tirado is running for clerk and has council leadership's as well as the mayor's political support. Tirado announced her run alongside Mueller in January.
Vying to unseat the incumbents holding at-large positions on the Common Council are a veteran and a newcomer.
Oliver Davis Jr., a social worker, served on the Common Council for 12 years before he ran for mayor in 2019.
LaQuita Hughes is a small business owner who runs a daycare in South Bend and graduated from Bethel University.
Karen White has been at at-large councilor since 2000. Lori Hamann assumed her role in 2016, and Rachel Tomas Morgan has served since January 2020.
Debates for contested races in several Common Council districts are being planned before the May primary, according to Elizabeth Bennion, the director of the IUSB American Democracy Project.
Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend city candidates debate ahead of primary election
