South Bend mayor still thinking 2020 run
Democratic official about Buttigieg: ‘Fun to watch develop’
As South Bend’s mayor mulls joining the field of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, officials say it will be “fun to watch develop.”
Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37, formed an exploratory committee earlier this year, but has not made an official announcement on whether he’ll seek the nomination.
“It’s exciting,” said Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee. “It’s fun to watch it develop.”
Having watched Buttigieg’s CNN town hall, Wieser said it was clear the mayor’s articulate, quick on his feet, and can frame his responses to questions. Wieser said he’s gotten a lot of talk after that forum.
“You can’t count him out,” said Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.
A candidate has never before gone from a city hall to the White House, McDermott said.
“To do what he’s doing takes an incredible amount of courage,” McDermott said.
Buttigieg graduated from Harvard, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, joined the U.S. Navy Reserves; and served in Afghanistan.
In 2010, Buttigieg ran for Indiana treasurer, losing to Republican Richard Murdock. Murdock later lost his U.S. Senate bid to South Bend Democrat Joe Donnelly.
Buttigieg was elected mayor in 2011, winning reelection in 2015. In 2017, Buttigieg made a bid to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee, but lost out to Tom Perez.
Buttigieg announced last year he would not seek re-election in South Bend.
Tim Scott, president of the South Bend Common Council, said people want to know what a candidate can do, and South Bend shows what Buttigieg can do.
“I think that’s what’s resonating with people on a national level,” Scott said.
Scott, a Democrat, said South Bend is seen as part of “flyover country ” but Buttigieg ’s prospective presidential bid has given the city new attention. People see that it’s a city where business can invest and people can move to.
Scott moved to South Bend from St. Louis 25 years ago and was elected in 2011, the same year as Buttigieg.
Scott said he saw South Bend start having a conversation about finding a new identity and reinvesting in itsel f. Forme r Mayor Stephen Luecke started that work, Scott said, and Buttigieg moved it forward with new ideas and energy.
South Bend was dominated by the Studebaker plant, Scott said, but then it closed. The city is now attracting a large number of small businesses and not just relying on one large employer, Scott said.
The former Studebaker plant is now a data center, Scott said.
“It’s exciting to be a part of,” Scott said.
Earlier this ye a r, Buttigieg’s book – “Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future” – was published, chronicling initiatives and programs the mayor started to revive South Bend.
“He’s done it here and I think he can do it at the national level, too,” Scott said.
Wieser said Buttigieg’s background is interesting, including a solid education, military service and record as mayor. Wieser said Buttigieg took a city in decline and turned it around.
“South Bend’s done very well over the past 20 years,” McDermott said.
County Commissioner Michael Repay, who is also the District 1 chairman for the Indiana Democratic Party, said Buttigieg probably could have put himself on a potential path to the presidency through a number of places had he not been a mayor. Considering Buttigieg’s background, Repay said he could have become a CEO of a large company; he could have gone into a congressional district and been elected to the House of Representatives; or moved to any other state and won elected office.
Repay, D-Hammond, said Buttigieg was on a panel at the National Association of Counties talking about veterans service officers, and the South Bend mayor had a different way of looking at the veterans population. Repay said Buttigieg’s position was that he wanted to do such a good job serving veterans that people would move to South Bend for that reason.
“Nobody’s ever taken that extra step,” Repay said.
Buttigieg is thinking ahead, Repay said, and that’s a person people should want as a mayor, governor or president.
“Hopefully other people recognize that in this country,” Repay said.
Wieser said he sees that Buttigieg is smart and is no doubt a good candidate for a higher office. He said Buttigieg is an Indiana Democrat and a “favorite son” for Northern Indiana.
History has demon- strated presidents with an executive or administrative background tend to be more successful than those with legislative backgrounds, Wieser said, but there can be exception to the rule. Wieser said governors or mayors have that understanding and it gives them an edge when it comes to having to govern.
In the last 50 years, four governors have been elected President: Jimmy Carter, Georgia; Ronald Reagan, California; Bill Clinton, Arkansas; and George W. Bush, Texas.
Wieser said one question is where a candidate goes with so many people involved in the race already.
“I think that’s an incredibly tall order,” Wieser said. “He’d be the guy to pull that off.”
Repay said it will be good watching the process moving forward, and that the debate and conversations need to happen.
“That’s what the primary process is about,” Repay said.