The Morning After

By the time you read this, the election signs will be coming down, campaign mailers will be finding their way into recycling bins, and the endless stream of political advertisements will finally have stopped.

For some, the election results brought celebration. For others, disappointment. That's the nature of democracy. Not every candidate wins. Not every voter gets the outcome they hoped for. But regardless of who won and who lost, the most important part of the election begins after Election Day. Governing.

I have thought about that often over the years, especially when reflecting on my time as mayor of Mishawaka. I was elected in 2003 and reelected in 2007. Both times, I served with a Democratic majority on the Common Council. We certainly did not agree on everything. We sometimes debated vigorously. We occasionally frustrated each other.

But at the end of the day, most of us shared a common belief: we had a responsibility to do what was best for our city. The voters had not elected us to score political points. They had elected us to solve problems. That mindset matters today more than ever.

The political environment has become increasingly polarized. Compromise is often viewed as weakness. Reaching across the aisle can invite criticism from the loudest voices at either end of the political spectrum. Yet meaningful progress rarely happens when elected officials retreat to their corners. The communities that succeed are usually the ones where leaders find ways to work together, even when they disagree.

That is particularly important at a time when our region faces significant challenges and opportunities. While we've seen progress, we have not grown as quickly as many of Indiana's fastest-growing communities. Since 2020, Indiana's population has grown by nearly 3 percent while St. Joseph County's population has remained essentially flat.

Meanwhile, counties attracting residents, jobs, and investment continue to widen the gap.

We’ve seen some encouraging signs. Data Centers have added more than 1,000 jobs. Healthcare continues to expand. Professional and business services are adding jobs. Logistics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial development remain active. Wages are growing and investment opportunities continue to emerge. But communities that stand still eventually fall behind.

During this election season, economic development was a frequent topic of discussion. Unfortunately, most of the conversation focused on what candidates opposed rather than what they supported. Data centers became a particularly popular target. In many races, it almost seemed like a competition to see who could denounce them most forcefully.

Every elected official has the right and responsibility to question a project. They should demand accountability, proper planning, environmental stewardship, and meaningful community benefits.

But leadership also requires answering a more difficult question: What is your plan for creating jobs, growing the tax base, attracting investment, and creating opportunities for the next generation? If not this project, then what? If not this investment, then which one? If not this employer, then who? Those are not rhetorical questions. They deserve thoughtful answers.

When I became mayor in 2004, we understood that jobs, investment, and talent could choose to locate somewhere else. That's why my administration worked closely with a Common Council controlled by the other party. We didn't agree on everything, but we understood that economic growth wasn't a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It was a community issue. New jobs don't ask about political affiliation before issuing a paycheck.

Citizens have responsibilities, too. Stay engaged. Attend meetings. Ask hard questions. Hold public officials accountable. Demand transparency and honesty. But also recognize that governing is difficult work. Progress often moves slower than any of us would like. Complex problems rarely have simple solutions. Public servants acting in good faith deserve constructive engagement, not automatic criticism.

The election is over. The campaigns are finished. For those who won, your responsibility is no longer to oppose. It is to lead. Bring people together. Build consensus. Develop a vision for growth. Help create the conditions that allow businesses to invest, entrepreneurs to succeed, and families to build their futures here.

The future of South Bend, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, and northern Indiana will not be determined by who won an election. It will be determined by whether we have the courage to grow, the wisdom to grow responsibly, and the leadership to work together while doing it.