No Mishawaka challenges in city primaries; one incumbent to leave

Greg Swiercz, South Bend Tribune
·3 min read
Voting booths await voters during absentee voting inside the County-City Building in South Bend.

MISHAWAKA — Despite some crowded candidate slates in South Bend's city primaries this May, neither political party in Mishawaka will have candidate challenges when voters go to the polls on May 2.

All incumbent office-holders in Mishawaka — mayor, city clerk and Common Council — filed for the primary by this month's deadline, with the exception of Mike Compton, 5th District office holder. Compton, a Democrat, said he decided not to seek re-election to a fifth full term representing the eastern portions of the city.

More:Filing deadline passes; lots of challengers shake up races for South Bend city offices

"My goal was not to (seek re-election), and I was hoping to find someone to endorse, and I have," Compton said Feb. 10. Compton was referring to Anthony "Tony" Violi, who has filed for the Democratic nomination for Mishawaka's 5th District seat. Violi is a Mishawaka accountant who also has been active for years with the Catholic school sports leagues.

No one submitted paperwork for the Republican nomination by the filing deadline.

Compton said his accomplishments involve the city work early in his tenure regarding the demolition of the former Uniroyal plant and subsequent development of the downtown area. He said the work of developing the north side improvements and the work going into neighborhoods was equally gratifying.

Keeping a strong police and fire service presence for the city through the city's efforts and through contract negotiations has been a highlight, and, Compton said, the recent work in bringing the new City Hall to the downtown has been a great accomplishment.

He said that he already feels he will miss it, "but I feel it is time for me to step down," he said. His term will last through the end of this year.

Other city filings

Republican Mayor Dave Wood has filed to run for a fourth full term as mayor. No one filed for the Democratic nomination for the primary, but parties have the right to slate candidates post-primary for the general election on Nov. 7.

More:Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood announces re-election bid in 'barnstorming' fashion

For city clerk, incumbent Debbie Ladyga-Block has filed for the Democratic nomination, while Lou Ann Hazen, administrative assistant for Wood, has filed for the Republican nomination for clerk.

Filing for nomination for the three at-large spots on the Common Council are Democratic incumbents Gregg Hixenbaugh and Matt Mammolenti and newcomer Lacy Hahn. Hahn is a Mishawaka business owner.

Republicans that have filed for the May primary include incumbent Maggie DeMaegd and Gloria Niedbalski. Niedbalski is a local real estate appraiser.

For the 1st District, Democratic incumbent Dale "Woody" Emmons has filed, while no one has filed for the Republican primary.

In the 2nd District, Republican incumbent Mike Bellovich has filed and will face a challenge this fall from Democrat Matt Carroll, who was the only person to file for the primary. Carroll is a local financial planner.

Mishawaka's incumbent 3rd District Council member, Anthony "Tony" Hazen, has filed for the primary, with no one filing for the Democratic primary.

Kate Voelker, incumbent 4th District council member, filed in the Republican primary, while Shelli Treely filed paperwork for the Democratic nomination in the May primary. Treely is an educator with the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp.

Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka city primary candidates unopposed as one incumbent drops out