OPINION: South Bend Mayor James Mueller Uses His Cabinet as a Bulletproof Vest

Monday, June 24th, 2024, will be remembered as a trying day for many residents of South Bend, particularly those invested in the proceedings of the South Bend Common Council’s Resolution 24-20. This resolution drew fervent public interest, resulting in an hour-long committee meeting and nearly four hours of intense discussion later that evening. In a striking show of democratic engagement, nearly 35 residents and business owners voiced their support for the resolution, while only four stood against it. Among the dissenters was South Bend City Attorney Sandra Kennedy.

Observing the events unfold, one couldn’t help but feel the weight of Ms. Kennedy's predicament. It’s highly unlikely she voluntarily chose to sacrifice her June summer evening away from her family, stepping into the line of fire to oppose passionate citizens on behalf of South Bend Mayor James Mueller. Instead, she became a reluctant mouthpiece, reciting messages texted by the South Bend Mayor James Mueller. Lines such as, “I have been communicating with Mayor Mueller this evening, and he’s asked me to tell you that we are offended by the last-minute attempt to try to barter an agreement with you…” and “The Mayor has promised he will veto it, he will veto it. You will have to override it,” painted a clear picture.

As Ms. Kennedy relayed these messages, the atmosphere in the room shifted palpably. The anger of the spectators redirected from South Bend Mayor James Mueller, the true architect of this opposition, to Ms. Kennedy, a mere conduit. It begs the question: why would South Bend Mayor James Mueller subject his Corporate Counsel to such a fraught environment? Why should the public’s frustration be misplaced upon our Chief Legal Officer instead of South Bend Mayor James Mueller, who, quite literally, hid behind text messages?

This incident underscores a troubling tendency of South Bend Mayor James Mueller to use his cabinet officials as shields, deflecting negative attention from his contentious policy decisions. Thus, it is South Bend Mayor James Mueller who owes an apology to Ms. Kennedy, and indeed, we all owe her an apology. We owe Ms. Kennedy an apology for, in the heat of the moment, allowing ourselves to be upset with her when she was being forced to do South Bend Mayor James Mueller's job. Ms. Kennedy did not campaign for the role of Mayor; James Mueller did. Ms. Kennedy trained in law to provide expert legal counsel, not to serve as a public lightning rod. Not all lawyers are seasoned public speakers, nor should they be thrust into such roles outside their comfort zones.