South Bend Voters Express Concern About Crime

by Samuel King (king@wsbt.com)

Tools

South Bend Voters Express Concern About Crime

(WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 6, 2007 at 5:05 PM EST

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

(WSBT) The most-contested race in our area is the South Bend mayor's race between incumbent Democrat Steve Luecke and Republican challenger Juan Manigault.

Voters across the city braved the cold and snow to cast their ballots.

The voters WSBT News spoke with said they were motivated, mostly because they were concerned about the direction of the city and how it will look no matter who becomes mayor.

“The reason I come is I take very seriously my option to vote,” explained voter Nann Tulchinsky. “It's my voice, and I feel very strongly about what goes on in South Bend.”

WSBT News went to four different polling places in four different corners of the city. In all of them, voters mentioned crime as one of their top issues.

“Crime of all kinds, and the suppression of it,” said voter John Norman.

“We need more police protection,” said voter Barbara Poindexter. “There are so many things that go on, every night somebody's getting stabbed or shot, so basically [more] policemen in the areas where we live.”

“I'd like to see somebody take a stand and say, ‘Hey, we're not going to let our citizens put up with that,” said another voter.

For other voters, jobs and economic development were important.

“There's so many things that’s been taken away from the west side of town over here and moved other places,” Poindexter said. “We don't have a grocery store that's close or a restaurant.”

While these voters said they were concerned about the city, they remain optimistic.

“Generally speaking, things go in some cycles for one reason or another. The pendulum swings one way or another,” Norman said. “There are bound to be some down times.”

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 41.8
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
How I Met Your Mother
8.30
Accidentally On Purpose
9.00
Two and a Half Men
9.30
Big Bang Theory
10.00
CSI: Miami
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

Today's Mortgage Rates