Pete Buttigieg

Name: Pete Buttigieg Party: Democrat Age: 29 Occupation: U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Top priorities if elected: Strengthening local economy, attracting/retaining businesses, empowering neighborhoods, build strong city connections with region and beyond and forge new city/schools partnerships. Interview conducted by South Bend Tribune editorial board

SOUTH BEND - More talks are expected Wednesday between South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Common Council on the police department wiretapping scandal. That's the investigation that led to the controversial demotion of former Police Chief Darryl Boykins and the firing of the department's Communications Director Karen DePaepe. WSBT was told an executive session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The council wants to talk to Mayor Buttigieg about releasing the tapes.

The two big local mayor races went as most expected, with Pete Buttigieg and Dave Wood winning easily. South Bend has not elected a republican mayor since 1967. Longtime South Bend Tribune political analyst, Jack Colwell, says initially many people believed the race for Mishawaka mayor could be fairly close. But state representative Craig Fry launched a negative campaign against incumbent Dave Wood, a move Colwell says was a big mistake. “Fry came out with what we call the child molester mailings, accusing the mayor of hiring a child molester,” said Colwell.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg spent Friday morning with those who are spending their day in the cold trying to clear the streets. He gave the street crews donuts and talked with them before they went out this morning. The mayor says the city is using some new equipment he hopes will help them get to side streets faster. “This is one of those things that South Bend is good at,” said Buttigieg. “I love spending time with the guys. I want them to know how much I appreciate them and I want to make sure the public knows how hard these folks are working.” The mayor even rode along with one of the crews Friday morning to get a closer look at just what they go through.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend's city attorney is stepping down at the end of the year when the new mayor takes office. Chuck Leone says he made this decision close to a year ago. The 64-year-old says it is a good time to leave since Mayor Luecke is leaving office. He will remain at his private practice. Leone represented South Bend in the high profile case over a plan to transfer public land to the Catholic Diocese for St. Joseph's High School.

LAPORTE - South Bend is not the only city getting a lot of attention for electing someone under 30 to be the next mayor. LaPorte also voted in a 29-year-old who will take office in January. Blair Milo grew up in LaPorte, and like South Bend mayor-elect Pete Buttigieg, she is in the Naval Reserves. Milo attended Purdue and also went to grad school at George Washington. As mayor, she wants to help LaPorte's economy and fight drugs. “Drugs have been a problem for a long time and they are a large problem nationwide but I think we can mitigate the impact that they have on the community and continue to work with individuals in the community,” said Milo.

SOUTH BEND — The latest entry into the South Bend mayoral race has become the first to withdraw. Citing "personal issues," Democrat Felipe Merino, an attorney, confirmed Wednesday that he has disbanded his campaign committee and is no longer running. His name, however, must remain on the ballot for the May 3 primary election, according to Indiana statute. "As much I would love to, I just can’t, at this time, take on that responsibility," Merino said.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend's new mayor's first order of business is paying raises for certain city employees.  It is the first piece of legislation he sent to the common council to approve. As we reported Wednesday, Pete Buttigieg says the raises are necessary to attract first class talent. He told WSBT that he looked at other Indiana cities and national averages to come up with his numbers. Our Factfinder team looked at how South Bend compares with one of its closest cities population wise in Indiana, which is Evansville.

SOUTH BEND - Was Mayor Pete Buttigieg's action to demote former Police Chief Daryl Boykins and fire Communications Director Karen DePaepe protection against the feds or punishment for being involved in a federal investigation. A busy day Friday inside the County-City Building. Inside the Common Council Offices, Vice President Oliver Davis said he wants more facts about the circumstances involving the demotion of Police chief Darryl Boykins and Communications Director Karen DePaepe.

SOUTH BEND - Whether they have been empty for a month or for years, there is nowhere in South Bend that is not affected by vacant and abandoned homes. Finding a solution was a hot topic during the mayor's race and there are those critical of whether the city is really doing all it can to fix the problem. But it is not a quick process. The city of South Bend has been working to clean up the blight but it is not a process that happens overnight. From the outside of some of the vacant and abandoned homes, it may look like it can be salvageable but in the inside, there is no hope for rehab.

SOUTH BEND - More talks are expected Wednesday between South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg and the Common Council on the police department wiretapping scandal. That's the investigation that led to the controversial demotion of former Police Chief Darryl Boykins and the firing of the department's Communications Director Karen DePaepe. WSBT was told an executive session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The council wants to talk to Mayor Buttigieg about releasing the tapes.

SOUTH BEND - Was Mayor Pete Buttigieg's action to demote former Police Chief Daryl Boykins and fire Communications Director Karen DePaepe protection against the feds or punishment for being involved in a federal investigation. A busy day Friday inside the County-City Building. Inside the Common Council Offices, Vice President Oliver Davis said he wants more facts about the circumstances involving the demotion of Police chief Darryl Boykins and Communications Director Karen DePaepe.

Two weeks ago Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced a task force to try and clear the more than 1,000 abandoned homes and properties around South Bend. It's made up of 14 people from city and county government, and community leaders. Mayor Buttigieg says the group will soon go out into neighborhoods to find out what people are seeing where they live. The mayor tells WSBT the city can't tackle the problem on its own; the community needs to get involved. "Look for ways to help," Buttigieg tells WSBT's Debra Daniel.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg spent Friday morning with those who are spending their day in the cold trying to clear the streets. He gave the street crews donuts and talked with them before they went out this morning. The mayor says the city is using some new equipment he hopes will help them get to side streets faster. “This is one of those things that South Bend is good at,” said Buttigieg. “I love spending time with the guys. I want them to know how much I appreciate them and I want to make sure the public knows how hard these folks are working.” The mayor even rode along with one of the crews Friday morning to get a closer look at just what they go through.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend's new mayor's first order of business is paying raises for certain city employees.  It is the first piece of legislation he sent to the common council to approve. As we reported Wednesday, Pete Buttigieg says the raises are necessary to attract first class talent. He told WSBT that he looked at other Indiana cities and national averages to come up with his numbers. Our Factfinder team looked at how South Bend compares with one of its closest cities population wise in Indiana, which is Evansville.

LAPORTE - South Bend is not the only city getting a lot of attention for electing someone under 30 to be the next mayor. LaPorte also voted in a 29-year-old who will take office in January. Blair Milo grew up in LaPorte, and like South Bend mayor-elect Pete Buttigieg, she is in the Naval Reserves. Milo attended Purdue and also went to grad school at George Washington. As mayor, she wants to help LaPorte's economy and fight drugs. “Drugs have been a problem for a long time and they are a large problem nationwide but I think we can mitigate the impact that they have on the community and continue to work with individuals in the community,” said Milo.

SOUTH BEND - Whether they have been empty for a month or for years, there is nowhere in South Bend that is not affected by vacant and abandoned homes. Finding a solution was a hot topic during the mayor's race and there are those critical of whether the city is really doing all it can to fix the problem. But it is not a quick process. The city of South Bend has been working to clean up the blight but it is not a process that happens overnight. From the outside of some of the vacant and abandoned homes, it may look like it can be salvageable but in the inside, there is no hope for rehab.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend's city attorney is stepping down at the end of the year when the new mayor takes office. Chuck Leone says he made this decision close to a year ago. The 64-year-old says it is a good time to leave since Mayor Luecke is leaving office. He will remain at his private practice. Leone represented South Bend in the high profile case over a plan to transfer public land to the Catholic Diocese for St. Joseph's High School.

The two big local mayor races went as most expected, with Pete Buttigieg and Dave Wood winning easily. South Bend has not elected a republican mayor since 1967. Longtime South Bend Tribune political analyst, Jack Colwell, says initially many people believed the race for Mishawaka mayor could be fairly close. But state representative Craig Fry launched a negative campaign against incumbent Dave Wood, a move Colwell says was a big mistake. “Fry came out with what we call the child molester mailings, accusing the mayor of hiring a child molester,” said Colwell.

Name: Pete Buttigieg Party: Democrat Age: 29 Occupation: U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Top priorities if elected: Strengthening local economy, attracting/retaining businesses, empowering neighborhoods, build strong city connections with region and beyond and forge new city/schools partnerships. Interview conducted by South Bend Tribune editorial board