Mayoral elections in South Bend, Indiana

[2] Frank J. Bruggner Democratic Lloyd M. Allen Republican The 1963 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 5, 1963.

[3] The South Bend Tribune's political writer at the time, James Carroll, described the primary the two men waged as being, "one of the meanest in Democratic history".

[3] The election took place in the direct aftermath of the announcement that Studebaker, a major South Bend employer, would be closing its operations in the city.

[7] Allen's victory had an arguable coattail effect, with Republican City Clerk nominee Cecil Blough winning his race.

[7] Lloyd M. Allen Republican Jerry Miller Democratic The 1971 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 2, 1971.

[16] Due to the strength of the Democratic Party, his upset primary victory, and his popularity as a common council member, Nemeth was favored to win.

[26] While Goodhew denied it, there were allegations that a state board that he was chair of was playing politics to aid his campaign when it delayed a bond issue for the city of South Bend.

[29][30] Rumors arose that internal polling had shown that, with controversy around the construction of Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium, Parent would not have been able to win a third term.

[38] Incumbent mayor Roger Parent disputed Baxmeyer's criticisms, arguing that it made sense to hire Hill due to the fact that he was already caught up on important issues including the city's stadium efforts.

Incumbent Democratic mayor Joe Kernan was reelected to a third term, defeating Republican challenger Michael C. "Mike" Waite.

[44] Republican Mike Waite encountered several stumbling blocks during his candidacy, including an arrest shortly after the primary election for unpaid bills and a lawsuit for backpay on delinquent child support.

[36][47] The city had been approached by an interested minor league ice hockey franchise, and Kernan was open to the idea, and was working to create a committee to weigh the cost and benefits of such a venture.

[47][31] Waite opposed the creation of a South Bend hockey franchise, arguing that stadium financing would take away funding better spent on other needs.

[37][47] Waite also criticized the scheme, arguing that it was problematic that such a new arena would create competition with the region's existing venues such as the Edmund P. Joyce Center.

[52] During the Democratic primary election, Luecke was challenged by Portage Township Assessor John Voorde as well as Kevin C. Horton and Zbigniew "Ziggy" Borowski.

[64] 2003 wound up being a good year for Democrats in Indiana's mayoral elections, with the party winning control of the mayoralties of all of the state's top seven most populous cities for the first time since 1959.

"[86] Manigault took issue with Luecke's interim economic development director Jeff Ginbey, arguing that his continuing role as president of the South Bend Heritage Foundation presented conflict of interest.

"[71] Luecke cited the recent relocation of Odyssean Technology from Mishawaka to South Bend as an example of companies moving to the city.

[71] Luecke had over the years envisioned South Bend as a regional center for arts and culture, taking actions which had generated a growth in the offerings of entertainment and dining in the city's downtown.

[88] Two studies that were recent at the time of the election had demonstrated that these efforts by Luecke were allowing the city to enjoy millions in economic spending.

[88] For instance, a study by Saint Mary's College showed that the city-owned Morris Performing Arts Center would generate a $5.9 annual indirect economic impact, excluding its own ticket sales.

Here lies South Bend, a once vibrant city now abandoned by business, overrun by violent crime and driving people from their family homes because of high property taxes.

[92] In fifteen other Indiana cities, incumbent mayors had not been so lucky and had lost their general elections, including the upset loss of Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson to Republican challenger Greg Ballard as well as the incumbents of Terre Haute, Anderson, La Porte, Delphi, West Lafayette, Tell City, Franklin, Madison, Charlestown, Plymouth, Vincennes, Washington, Huntingburg, and Frankfort.

[100][101] After serving for fourteen years, incumbent Democratic mayor Steve Luecke made the surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection.

[102][103] The election was won by Democratic nominee Pete Buttigieg, who, at 29 years of age, became the youngest mayor, at the time, of a United States city with a population greater than 100,000.

[101][104][105] Democratic primary election candidates included failed 2010 Indiana State treasurer candidate Pete Buttigieg, state representative Ryan Dvorak, high school teacher and St. Joseph Councilman Michael Hamann, reverend and former Clinton administration staffer Barrett Berry, and attorney Felipe Merino.

[117] Curry had some experience in government and community projects, including having served as chairman for the Economic Development Panel of South Bend's City Plan process from 2003 through 2006.

[117] Also running in the Republican primary was William F. "Bill" Davis, a self-proclaimed "independent" who had challenged mayor Luecke for the Democratic nomination in the previous election.

The election was won by incumbent Democrat Pete Buttigieg, who was reelected with more than 80 percent of the votes, defeating Republican Kelly Jones.

[118] Incumbent mayor Pete Buttigieg was challenged by outgoing 2nd district South Bend Common Council member Henry Davis.