Charges Fly in South Bend Mayoral Race on Eve of Election Day

by Samuel King (king@wsbt.com)

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Charges Fly in South Bend Mayoral Race on Eve of Election Day

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 5, 2007 at 5:45 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2008 at 12:00 PM EST

(WSBT) It looks like it will be cold for Election Day, but the local candidates for mayor in South Bend are giving each other an even chillier reception.

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Last minute charges are flying as we move into the final hours before the election. The latest charge says Mayor Luecke broke the law earlier this year.

In an affidavit, Robert Meeks, an election judge, accuses the mayor and his wife of entering the polling place at St. Anthony's Church and shaking hands with poll workers.

Appearing on WSBT's First Thing in the Morning, the mayor answered the charges.

“I made the mistake of going in to thank the Election Day workers who put in a long day,” Luecke explained. “I was not campaigning; I didn't have on any campaign material.”

His opponent Juan Manigault says it was more than a mistake.

“The mayor broke the law. That's the fact,” Manigault said. “We want to ensure that the laws are not broken tomorrow.”

Asked about the timing of the charges, Manigault says fair is fair.

“It's just like the situation with me. My situation with WorkForce audits occurred five years ago and they were resolved. The mayor chose to bring them up now.”

Another issue for the mayor: The Fraternal Order of Police is holding a confidence vote this week on leadership of the police chief. Thomas Fautz is retiring at the end of the year.

“I have a problem with the FOP holding a no-confidence vote,” Luecke said. “Tom Fautz has been a great chief for the city of South Bend. He's helped to make the city safer. He's provided great support for our police officers.”

The FOP has endorsed Manigault.

Manigault says he had no discussions with the FOP about the vote, but did criticize the chief for holding another job.

“The chief is the chief of police of South Bend, but he also has a full-time job as director of security for Martin's,” Manigault said. “So how can you adequately lead the police force and also have another full-time job? That's unconscionable to me and that will not happen under a Manigault administration.”

The FOP vote is scheduled to end Wednesday, which of course, is the day after the election.

As for the mayor entering polling places, the election board chairman says there was no complaint filed, and he doesn't think anything will happen with the case before Election Day, if at all.

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