Meet the Mayor

South Bend's 31st Mayor, Stephen J. Luecke, took office January 3, 1997, succeeding Joseph E. Kernan who had been elected Lt. Governor.  Now in his third term, Mayor Luecke has championed the development of a City in which all residents can be proud to live, work, and play.

Mayor Steve introduced his vision for leading South Bend into the 21st Century with five initiatives:  Safe City, Smart Growth, Clean City, Technology, and Quality of Life.  His blueprint for building a world-class community has translated into opportunities that advance the hopes and dreams of the residents of South Bend.  Under his leadership, the City has seen tremendous growth and redevelopment.  In nine years as Mayor, he has overseen major job retention and capital investments, including Downtown revitalization and infrastructure improvements.  Mayor Steve is a consensus builder who is committed to getting things done.  He encouraged coalitions between government and private entities and neighborhood organizations.  He believes in inclusive planning for community growth.

Prior to becoming Mayor, Steve served nine years on the Common Council, two as its President.  During his tenure, he introduced performance-based budgeting, ordinances to reduce noise, curfew and drug violations, and reworked tax abatement guidelines.  His private sector experience includes a four-year apprenticeship with Carpenter's Local #413, owner of a small construction company that specialized in renovating older homes, and fifteen years as construction manager for a not-for-profit community development corporation.  This experience in neighborhood revitalization sparked his interest in local government.  He is proud to have part of the team that developed the award-winning West Washington Homes.  Other affordable housing developments which he oversaw include Heritage Homes South East and conversion of a vacant department store to Robertson's Apartments.

Raised in Freeport, Illinois, Mayor Steve made South Bend his home over thirty years ago after graduating from Fordham University with a B.A. in Philosophy.  Mayor Steve and his wife Peg have four children.

Mayor Steve serves on the boards of Project Future, Solid Waste Management District, Michiana Area Council of Governments Policy Board, Indiana University South Bend, and the Northern Indiana Mayors Roundtable.

Mayoral Responsibilities

The Mayor is the chief administrative officer of the city, elected for a four-year term.  There is no limit to the number of terms.  To be eligible to run for Mayor, one must be a registered voter and have resided within City limits for at least one year.  Among the Mayor's duties are:

• Execute and supervise enforcement of City ordinances and state laws.
• Communicate to the Common Council regarding City finances and affairs.
• Perform the duties of an executive or administrative character as defined by law, and exercise general supervision over subordinate officers.
• Fill vacancies for unexpired terms in the appointed offices of the City.
• Appoint the heads and employees of various departments of city government.
• Sign all bonds, deeds, and written contracts of the City, and all licenses issued pursuant to law by any department.
• Approve or disapprove, within ten days in writing, ordinances passed by the Common Council. There is veto authority for items of an appropriation or levy measures.
• Call monthly meetings of department heads, adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of affairs of individual departments and fix the salaries of certain officials and deputies (which is subject to approval of the Common Council).
• Issue proclamations commemorating special events, weeks, days, etc. 

Office of the Mayor
227 West Jefferson Blvd. • Suite 1400 N
South Bend, Indiana 46601
574.235.9261