The 1995 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 7, 1995. Incumbent mayor Joe Kernan was reelected to a third term, defeating Republican challenger Michael C. "Mike" Waite. In winning this election, Kernan became the first South Bend mayor since 1905 to win a third term. It also made Kernan poised to break the record, at the time, for longest-serving mayor of South Bend.
Primaries
Democratic primary
Joe Kernan won renomination.
Republican primary
Waite, a businessman who had previously been an unsuccessful candidate in the 1987 South Bend Republican mayoral primary and had never before held public office, won a Republican primary that also featured Larry M. Scott and James W. Philson. Waite was president of High Tech Alarm Corporation Inc.
General election
Republican Mike Waite encountered several stumbling blocks during his candidacy, including an arrest for unpaid bills and a lawsuit for backpay on delinquent child support. Much of the campaign season would center on these controversies. Waite claimed his arrest was politically motivated and orchestrated by Kernan and the St. Joseph County Sheriff, with Kernan denying this accusation. Ultimately, while Waite remained their nominee, the Republican Party withdrew their backing of his candidacy. Kernan had attracted respect as mayor for his ability to attract economic development to the community. Kernan campaigned as an opponent of further privatization in South Bend. Kernan did not oppose all and any privatization, but was, rather, an opponent of what he called the, "wholesale auction of the city's assets". South Bend Republicans had been proponents of further privatization. Waite criticized Kernan on the issue of crime, accusing him of both ignoring and denying the issue. Kernan argued that he had taken measures to address crime, such as increasing the size of the city's police force by 34 officers since 1991. Kernan also claimed theat the rate of violent crime had decreased 19% since the previous year. Kernan, however, conceded that crime was, "the most significant challenge we face in the community". Indicative of the issue of crime, the city had already seen a record murder total in 1995 by the time of the election. Waite's proposals to address crime included spending more funds on the police department, restructuring the police department, and increasing the number of police officers. He argued that this could be accomplished without increasing taxes. Another issue was a proposed minor league ice hockey arena in South Bend. The city had been approached by an interested minor league ice hockey franchise, and Kernan was open to the idea, and was working to create a committee to weigh the cost and benefits of such a venture. Waite opposed the creation of a South Bend hockey franchise, arguing that stadium financing would take away funding better spent on other needs. Waite also criticized the scheme, arguing that it was problematic that such a new arena would create competition with the region's existing venues such as the Edmund P. Joyce Center. Waite also argued, "If people want to watch hockey they can go see the Notre Dame hockey team." Another issue debated was the financing for the College Football Hall of Fame, with Waite criticizing the lack of transparency behind its financing and contracts. He characterized it to be a tax burden on the city. At the time, attracting the College Football Hall of Fame to South Bend had been considered one of Kernan's successes as mayor. Another issue debated was the Blackthorn development, which would see a privately managed golf course surrounded by office developments. Waite opposed this project, while Kernan supported it, arguing that it had added 3,000 jobs and $25 million in investment to the city. Kernan declared, "When Waite says he opposes Blackthorn, he is saying he opposes jobs in the community". Waite criticized Kernan for being allegedly indifferent towards the proposed establishment of an adult bookstore on South Main Street saying, "Mayor Joe Kernan would rather subsidize porno book than school books." Kernan supported a measure to implement an option tax, arguing that it would provide property tax relief and enable capital improvements. Waite stood in opposition to any new taxes. Waite argued that the city needed more higher paying jobs, and that it was an issue that South Bend had more service sector employees than manufacturing sector, a reality which Waite accredited to planning choices the South Bend city government had made. Waite lodged allegations of wrongful actions by Kernan. Speculation had arisen that Kernan would be a prospective nominee for lieutenant governor in the 1996 Indiana gubernatorial election. Kernan denied having any such aspirations at the time, however, he would ultimately be the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee the following year and was elected as such.
Result
At the time, the voter turnout was considered to be relatively low, with the turnout equating to roughly 20% of the city's overall populace. Kernan's more than 82% of the vote set a record for South Bend mayoral elections. Kernan became the first South Bend mayor since 1905 to be elected to a third term. The election made Kernan poised to become the city's longest-serving mayor at the time.
