The City of South Bend, along with residents Warren Outlaw and Iris Outlaw, have filed for relief in Marion County Court from an unconstitutional special state law, which establishes an atypical government structure in St. Joseph County that has no countywide commissioners or councilmembers.
The city released the following statement:
“Our County representation should not differ or be singled out from the general law of the state of Indiana,” said Mayor James Mueller. “Just as the mayor must represent the entire city, county commissioners must represent the entire county for us to move forward successfully and build a stronger future for the greater South Bend region.”
Under this special law for St. Joseph County, three commissioners and nine councilmembers each represent separate, partial districts that have resulted in the underrepresentation of cities and diverse populations in County government. In contrast, the general law of the state establishes a county system in which the three commissioners, along with three councilmembers, are elected countywide. There are four additional councilmembers that represent a separate, partial district. Except for St. Joseph County, Marion County, and Lake County, all other counties in Indiana are governed by this general law.
Article 4 Section 22 of the Indiana Constitution states that “[t]he General Assembly shall not pass local or special laws … [r]egulating the election of county and township officers and their compensation.” The following section, Section 23 further elaborates that “[i]n all the cases enumerated in the preceding section, and in all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, all laws shall be general, and of uniform operation throughout the State.”
The City is seeking a return to constitutional governance in St. Joseph County through today’s filing for Declaratory Judgement and Injunctive Relief against the State of Indiana Election Commission.
3 comments
Question Historically has not Saint Joseph and South Bend been a one party rule political system for many decades ? Was one party in charge of everything until recently? How did this system develop of a unique governance? I really want to know
And what do they want now other than more paid political positions for their friends?
I fail to see why the losers in South Bend who elect Democrats should have a say in the unincorporated county seats. I like the idea of the city electing their own corrupt leftist representatives and leaving the rest of us alone.