2007 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election

The 2007 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007. Incumbent mayor Steve Luecke was reelected to a third full-term (and fourth overall term).

2007 South Bend mayoral election
November 6, 2007
 
Nominee Steve Luecke Juan A. Manigault
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 12,355 7,471
Percentage 62.14% 37.57%
Mayor before election

Steve Luecke
Democratic

 Elected Mayor

Steve Luecke
Democratic

Elections in Indiana

Nominations

During the primaries, St. Joseph County, where South Bend is located, saw voter turnout of 10% in its various primary elections.[1]

Democratic primary

Incumbent mayor Steve Luecke defeated challenger William F. "Bill" Davis in the Democratic primary.[2][3] Davis was widely-unknown.[4] Davis' primary past political endeavor was an unsuccessful 1994 campaign for a seat on the South Bend School Board.[3] Davis stated that his primary concerns were the corrosion of the city's neighborhoods and the decline of its tax base.[3]

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent) 4,781 79.12%
Democratic William F. Davis 1,262 20.88%
Total votes 6,043

Republican primary

For the first time since 1999, the Republican primary for mayor was a contested one.[5]

The primary was won by Juan A. Manigualt,[2] the President and CEO of Workforce Development.[6] He defeated Terry S. Miller,[2] who was a business owner that had served on the South Bend Common Council from 1972 until 1979.[6] Miller had also been a member of the Century Center Board of Managers, serving as its president from 1981 until 1982.[6] Miller had more recently served as a lobbyist and public policy director for the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.[7][8]

In his primary race Manigault raised $30,000 in funds.[4]

Manigualt was endorsed in the primary by Fraternal Order of Police Post 36.[9]

The primary race was projected as a "tossup".[9]

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Juan A. Manigault 1,690 66.77%
Republican Terry S. Miller 841 33.23%
Total votes 2,531

General election

South Bend was a heavily Democratic city. No Republican had been elected mayor of South Bend since Lloyd Allen was reelected in 1967.[10]

The South Bend Tribune endorsed incumbent mayor Luecke.[11] Manigault boasted several endorsements,[12] among them was the endorsement of Fraternal Order of Police Post 36,[13][14][15] American Family Association Indiana,[16] Indiana Family Action,[16] and Citizens for Community Values Indiana.[17]

Manigault resigned from his position as head of Workforce Development to focus on his candidacy.[18]

There was some hope among Republicans that Manigault, a hispanic man, may be able to attract hispanic voters to his candidacy.[4] Being hispanic, if Manigault was elected mayor, he would have been the first ethnic minority to be elected to a full-time executive office in St. Joseph County. No ethnic minority would be elected to a full-time executive office in St. Joseph County until the 2015 South Bend City Clerk election was won by Kareemah Fowler.[19]

Manigault made the issue of economic development central to his candidacy.[7] In his vision for development in South Bend, Manigault stated that he wanted to see, “strong emphasis on private investment.”[20] 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.[7] Mangault also criticized the size of the city's economic planning and development department, proclaiming it to be much larger than the comparably sized city of Fort Wayne, yet arguably not significantly more successful than Fort Wayne's department.[4]

Luecke criticized Manigault for record keeping issues from his tenure as the head of Workforce Development.[18][21] The state had previously audited the firm and found missing funds.[4]

Luecke claimed that crime had decreased 24 percent during his tenure as mayor.[21] Manigualt criticized Luecke on the issue of crime, arguing that it was unacceptable that the city remained above the national average for crime.[21]

Manigault argued that South Bend had lost jobs and companies to nearby Mishawaka, citing WSBT-TV, Schurz Communications (the parent company of the South Bend Tribune), St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, and Northwest Mutual Life as examples.[4] Luecke countered this, saying, “South Bend and Mishawaka are all part of a regional economy. Yeah, a couple of companies have moved out, but many more have moved in.”[4] Luecke cited the recent relocation of Odyssean Technology from Mishawaka to South Bend as an example of companies moving to the city.[4]

Luecke cited $1.3 billion in investments made in the city during his tenure.[4] He also argued that downtown South Bend was experiencing growth.[4]

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.[22] 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.[22] 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.[22]

Luecke envisioned a need for South Bend to capitalize on what he argued were its greatest strengths, its location and its proximity to Chicago.[4] He argued at future in "advanced logistics" declaring that, "We’re in a great location for warehousing and distribution.”[4]

A debate was held at Indiana University South Bend.[23]

A late-September poll by Research 2000 showed Luecke polling at 42% favorable and 35% unfavorable among residents, with 23% undecided in their opinions on him.[22] For Manigault these numbers were 36% favorable, 21% unfavorable, and 43% undecided.[22]

In October, a Republican mailer generated controversy during the election.[24][25][26] The mailer featured a card with an image tombstone surrounded by a desolate landscape, with an epitaph reading, "RIP. 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."[25] On the reverse, the card accused Luecke of having "neglected our city and allowed it to die".[25] Luecke stated that he had heard from many residents upset with these mailers.[25] Manigault, while claiming he had nothing to do with sending these mailers, defended them, declaring that they were not demonstrative of 'negative campaigning' because, "This is the truth. This is where the city is headed. This is what the city has become."[25]

By October 12 Luecke had raised $253,939 and Manigault had raised $152,913 in funds.[27]

Manigault's campaign had presented enough of a challenge to Luecke that the state Democratic party allotted additional funds to Luecke's campaign in the autumn.[28]

Luecke was initially seen as having very strong odds of reelection.[29] However, by August, some experts considered the race as a potential "tossup".[18] Ultimately, however, the race was seen as being in Luecke's favor.[10][4][18][22][25][27][28][30]

Polls
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Steve
Luecke		 Juan
Manigault		 Other Undecided
Research 2000[22] September 26-28 400 ± 5% 44% 32% 1% 23%
Research 2000[30] October 25-26 400 ± 5% 48% 38% 2% 12%

Results

Luecke won far broader margin-of-victory than many had anticipated he would.[26]

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.[31]

After his predecessor Joe E. Kernan, this election made Luecke only the second South Bend mayor in the previous hundred years to have been elected to a third full term.[32]

General election results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent) 12,355 62.14%
Republican Juan A. Manigault 7,471 37.57%
Green Thomas Eugene Brown (write-in) 58 0.29%
Total votes 19,884

References
  1. Parrott, Jeff (May 6, 2015). "Pete Buttigieg rolls to victory in South Bend mayoral primary". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  2. "Historical Election Results". Indiana.gov Voter Portal. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  3. "Bill Davis Announces Mayoral Plans". www.wndu.com. WNDU-TV. December 20, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  4. Howey, Brian A. (June 14, 2007). "Juan Manigault: GOP's best hope?" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 13 (40). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  5. Peterson, Mark. "Two's A Crowd In Mayor's Race". www.wndu.com. WNDU-TV. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  6. "4 vying to be South Bend mayor". South Bend Tribune. May 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  7. "Manigault Files for South Bend Mayoral Bid". WNDU-TV. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  8. "Terry Miller Will Announce His Mayoral Bid for South Bend". www.wndu.com. WNDU-TV. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  9. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (3). August 23, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  10. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (7). September 27, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  11. "South Bend Tribune". South Bend Tribune. November 4, 2007.
  12. "South Bend Tribune". South Bend Tribune. July 21, 2007.
  13. "Closing Statement of Juan A. Manigault". Vote Manigualt. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008.
  14. Peterson, Mark (August 14, 2007). "South Bend FOP endorses Manigault". WNDU-TV. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  15. "Chief, FOP rift deepens". Fraternal Order of Police. November 13, 2007. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  16. Wensits, James (November 4, 2007). "South Bend Tribune". South Bend Tribune.
  17. "CCV IPAC ENDORSEMENTS". Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  18. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (6). September 20, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  19. Swiercz, Greg (July 16, 2019). "South Bend City Clerk Kareemah Fowler to become chief financial officer for South Bend schools". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  20. Riely, Kaitlynn (October 12, 2007). "City elections involve student issues". The Observer. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  21. Logan, Erin (October 30, 2007). "Questions for South Bend mayoral candidates". WNDU-TV. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  22. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (8). October 4, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  23. Logan, Erin (October 23, 2007). "South Bend mayoral candidates debate". WNDU-TV. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  24. "Republican mailing stirs controversy in South Bend". Indianapolis Business Journal. October 17, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  25. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (10). October 18, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  26. "Luecke rolls in South Bend" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (14). November 7, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  27. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (11). October 25, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  28. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (5). September 13, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  29. Howey, Brian (May 14, 2007). "Brian Howey: Revenge of the Ex-Mayors! What the city elections tell us". Terre Haute Tribune-Star.
  30. "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (13). November 1, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  31. Howey, Brian A. (November 7, 2007). "Upset City: Ballard's shock wave" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (14). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  32. Heisler, Jamie (November 8, 1995). "Kernan victorious in mayoral election" (PDF). The Observer. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
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