Steve Luecke

Luecke grew up in of Freeport, Illinois.{{cite news |last1=McFadden |first1=Maureen |title=A Conversation with Mayor Steve Luecke |url=https://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/One_on_one_with_long_time_Mayor_Steve_Luecke_136391663.html |publisher=WNDU-TV |date=December 19, 2011 |accessdate=October 28, 2019}}

Luecke attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated from Fordham University.Austin Murphy, Saturday Rules: A Season with Trojans and Domers (and Gators and Buckeyes and Wolverines) (Harper, 2007), p. 19.

During the Vietnam War, Luecke had been a conscientious objector.{{cite journal |title=Leucke's lead is big |journal=The Howey Political Report |date=October 21, 1999 |volume=6 |issue=10 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPR_1999_10_21.pdf |accessdate=September 13, 2019}}{{cite journal |title=TICKER TAPE |journal=The Howey Political Report |date=December 16, 1996 |volume=3 |issue=15A |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPR_1996_12_16.pdf |accessdate=November 4, 2019}}

Before entering politics, Luecke worked first as a carpenter apprentice for four years. After this he worked as a partner in the Old Building Recycling Co., which restored holder homes. After this he worked at the South Bend Heritage Foundation, a foundation focusing on affordable housing and other local issues.

Elected in 1987, Luecke served as a member of the South Bend Common Council for nine years, serving as the councilman for the 1st District in the city's northwest.

In January 1997, Luecke became mayor of South Bend, filling the vacancy created by the departure of Mayor Joe E. Kernan, who had become lieutenant governor. He was endorsed by Kernan to be his successor, and was thereafter appointed unanimously by the Common Council to fill the vacancy. Luecke remained mayor until 2011. A Democrat, he was the city's longest-serving mayor. Luecke was first reelected in 1999, being reelected in 2003 and 2007.

Highlights of Luecke's tenure as mayor included a reduction in crime in the city, urban redevelopment efforts, and the renovation of the Morris Performing Arts Center.

During Luecke's tenure South Bend received a number of positive accolades, such as being named an All-America City by the National Civic League in 2011 and receiving the National League of Cities Gold Award for Municipal Excellence in both 2002 and 2010. However, it also received some negative accolades, being listed by Newsweek in a January 2011 article as one of "America's Dying Cities".{{cite web |title=America's Dying Cities |url=https://www.newsweek.com/americas-dying-cities-66873 |website=Newsweek |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=en |date=21 January 2011}}

Luecke opted against running for what would have been a fourth full (and fifth overall) term as mayor, making the 2011 South Bend mayoral election an open race to succeed him, and the first open mayoral election in South Bend in 24 years.{{cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Jaime |title=The most interesting mayor you've never heard of |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 10, 2014 |accessdate=September 9, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Molina |first1=Rich |title=Meet the Candidates: Pete Buttigieg |publisher=WNDU-TV |date=March 23, 2011}}{{cite journal |last1=Howey |first1=Brian A. |title=Big GOP gains shift to city halls |journal=Howey Politics Indiana |date=November 10, 2011 |volume=17 |issue=13 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPI111110.pdf |accessdate=September 15, 2019}} Luecke abstained from endorsing any candidate ahead of the Democratic primary.{{cite news |last1=Galer |first1=Sara |title=Ex-Indiana treasurer candidate wins South Bend mayoral primary |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/ex-indiana-treasurer-candidate-wins-south-bend-mayoral-primary |publisher=WTHR |date=May 4, 2011 |accessdate=September 8, 2019}} The race to succeed Luecke was ultimately won by Pete Buttigieg.

File:Palace Theater (7691423952).jpg

As mayor, Luecke envisioned South Bend as a regional center for arts and culture.{{cite journal |title=2007 Mayoral |journal=Howey Political Report |date=October 4, 2007 |volume=14 |issue=8 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPR1408.pdf.pdf |accessdate=September 22, 2019}} He took actions which had generated a growth in the offerings of entertainment and dining in the city's downtown.

The Morris Performing Arts Center was renovated in 2000 under his mayoralty.{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Melissa |title=SB150: Former Mayor Steve Luecke |url=https://www.abc57.com/news/sb150-former-mayor-steve-luecke |website=ABC57 |publisher=WBND-LD |date=May 22, 2015 |accessdate=October 28, 2019}} Two studies conducted around 2007 had demonstrated that these efforts by Luecke were allowing the city to enjoy millions in economic spending. One of these, a study by Saint Mary's College, showed that the city-owned Morris Performing Arts Center would generate a $5.9 annual indirect economic impact, excluding its own ticket sales.

File:Eddy Street Commons (31743111497).jpg

A major new development that the city saw during Luecke's tenure was the beginning of the first phase of Eddy Street Commons. Leucke had supported Eddy Street Commons in the approval stage.{{cite web |title=Council approves rezoning for Eddy Street Commons |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/council-approves-rezoning-for-eddy-street-commons/ |website=Notre Dame News |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=en |date=16 July 2007}} Other projects included redevelopment along West Washington Street.

The city saw the construction of a The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center during Luecke's mayoralty.

Luecke is credited for having strengthened the relationship between the City of South Bend and the nearby University of Notre Dame.

Under Luecke, the city made the decision that the former Studebaker plant buildings would be demolished for new use. The city put together TIF funds and federal funding to clear the site, which later became the site of the Innovation Park and Ignition Park tech parks. Innovation Park broke ground in September 2008.{{cite web |last1=Gilroy |first1=William G. |title=Innovation Park groundbreaking marks beginning of new "bridge to the future" |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/innovation-park-groundbreaking-marks-beginning-of-new-ldquobridge-to-the-futurerdquo/ |website=Notre Dame News |accessdate=20 November 2020 |language=en |date=25 September 2008}}

By 2007, Luecke was proclaiming that the city had seen $1.3 billion in investments during his tenure.{{cite journal |last1=Howey |first1=Brian A. |title=Juan Manigault: GOP's best hope? |journal=Howey Political Report |date=June 14, 2007 |volume=13 |issue=40 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPR1340.pdf.pdf |accessdate=September 22, 2019}}

Luecke took some actions regarding the reducing city's harm to the environment.

In 2008, Luecke signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.{{cite web |title=CARBON NEUTRAL 2050 SOUTH BEND'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN |url=http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/296977/South%20Bend%20Climate%20Action%20Plan.pdf |website=docs.southbendin.gov |publisher=South Bend, Indiana |author=Delta Institute |accessdate=20 November 2020 |date=November 2019}}

In April 2009, Luecke launched the Green Ribbon Commission to issue recommendations regarding the city's environmental impact.{{cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://southbendin.gov/department/public-works/sustainability/ |website=southbendin.gov |accessdate=14 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.inovateus.com/inovateus-solar-joins-south-bend-green-ribbon-commission/ |website=www.inovateus.com |publisher=Inovateus Solar |accessdate=14 November 2020}} In 2010, he established the Municipal Energy Office, which prioritizes environmental concerns such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation efficiency and innovation, municipal regulation, and recycling and waste management.

Among the infrastructure efforts undertaken during his tenure was a "smart sewer" program.{{cite web |title=South Bend, Indiana Uses Smart Sewer Technology to Monitor and Manage Increased Water Levels |url=https://eri.iu.edu/erit/case-studies/south-bend-indiana-uses-smart-technology-to-monitor-and-regulate-wastewater-levels.html |publisher=Indiana University |accessdate=October 28, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Jessica |title=Wireless Sensors Reduce Flooding in Indiana City |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Wireless-Sensors-Reduce-Flooding-in-Indiana.html |publisher=GovTech |date=October 1, 2008 |accessdate=October 29, 2019}} On his last day in office, Leucke's administration, on behalf of the city, signed a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency that the City of South Bend would make sewer improvements by 2031 that were projected to cost, altogether, $713 million.{{cite web |last1=Sinning |first1=Sarah |title=How South Bend got smart about water quality |url=https://www.gov1.com/infrastructure/articles/how-south-bend-got-smart-about-water-quality-p4rXsuV9E3ZgovDH/ |website=gov1.com |publisher=Gov1 by Lexpol |access-date=7 March 2021 |language=en |date=24 November 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Parrott |first1=Jeff Parrott |title=South Bend hopes to spend hundreds of millions less to reduce river pollution |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-hopes-to-spend-hundreds-of-millions-less-to-reduce-river-pollution/article_8c491336-e691-597f-84ca-605f5b62f4d5.html |website=South Bend Tribune |accessdate=16 November 2020 |language=en |date=3 September 2019}} The "smart sewer" program was subsequently built upon substantially by his successor Buttigieg.{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Drew |title=How has South Bend changed under Mayor Buttigieg's leadership? |url=https://www.abc57.com/news/how-has-south-bend-changed-under-mayor-buttigiegs-leadership |publisher=WBND-LD |date=April 14, 2019 |accessdate=October 28, 2019}}

Under Luecke, the city made a number of improvements to its parks and established new bike and pedestrian paths.

File:20060128 08 South Bend Public Transportation Corp. South St. Station (13342584075) (a).jpg

In 1998, the South Street Station, a bus center, opened in downtown South Bend.{{cite web |title=Transpo Overview & History |url=http://sbtranspo.com/about/transpo-overview-history |publisher=South Bend Public Transportation Corporation |accessdate=October 30, 2019}} The effort to build the station had begun planning in the mayoralty of Luecke's predecessor Joe Kernan.{{cite web |title=Laporte County intermodal rail yard |url=https://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/9537132.html |publisher=WNDU |date=September 2, 2007 |accessdate=November 21, 2019}}{{cite book |title=Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1999: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, Part 7 |date=1998 |publisher=United States Congress |pages=467–486 |isbn=9780160572760 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QAoof0mcxE8C |accessdate=November 24, 2019}} It opened without an originally-planned Amtrak station component. Luecke sought to have the Amtrak component constructed, but was unsuccessful.

In 2006, Luecke opposed a private group's plan to create short line railroad named the South Bend Railway by acquiring and refurbishing a former Norfolk Southern rail line running through the city's west side. The plan would have seen the railway utilize the track for freight service, with the potential of having passenger services utilize it in the future to transport football spectators directly to the campus of Notre Dame University. Luecke cited safety and quality-of-life concerns for residents that live near the tracks in his opposition.{{cite web |title=Notre Dame not interested in rail proposal for coal delivery |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/notre-dame-not-interested-in-rail-proposal-for-coal-delivery/article_e364f545-bc16-5303-acfe-d11975c618e0.html |website=nwitimes.com |publisher=The Times of Northwest Indiana |accessdate=16 November 2020 |language=en |date=22 June 2006}}{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Tom |title=Echoes: The old ND&W {{!}} Stories {{!}} Notre Dame Magazine {{!}} University of Notre Dame |url=https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/echoes-the-old-ndw/ |website=Notre Dame Magazine |accessdate=16 November 2020 |language=en |date=2017}}

Luecke worked to reduce the size of the city's government through staff reductions.{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Bob |title=Higher Taxes, or Less Police and Fire Protection? |url=https://taxfoundation.org/higher-taxes-or-less-police-and-fire-protection/ |website=Tax Foundation |accessdate=20 November 2020 |date=29 August 2008}}

In 2005, when it appeared that the South Bend Silver Hawks were potentially leaving the city, Luecke pledged to make strong effort to keep minor league baseball in South Bend.{{cite web |title=It will be sad if the Silver Hawks fly away |url=https://m.leaderpub.com/2005/07/15/it-will-be-sad-if-the-silver-hawks-fly-away/ |website=Leader Publications |accessdate=16 November 2020 |date=15 July 2005}} Ultimately, a leadership group led by Joe Kernan stepped up to buy the team and keep it in the city.{{cite web |title=South Bend sale agreement reached |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/south-bend-sale-agreement-reached/n-3277865 |website=OurSports Central |accessdate=20 November 2020 |language=en |date=9 March 2006}}

In August 2009, Luecke announced an alliance between the city's five largest medical providers.{{cite web |title=NEWS RELEASE |url=http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=8608&page=1&cr=1 |website=docs.southbendin.gov |accessdate=14 November 2020 |date=20 August 2009}}

Luecke appointed many ethnic minorities to offices, including having African American appointees all heading the largest city departments during part of his tenure.{{cite web |last1=Klee |first1=Ricky |title=Viewpoint: Hired leadership in South Bend doesn't look like the community |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/opinion/viewpoint/viewpoint-hired-leadership-in-south-bend-doesn-t-look-like/article_e972073a-505c-5739-84f9-22bcc949c312.html |website=South Bend Tribune |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=en |date=13 November 2016}}

From 2013 until his retirement in 2017, Luecke was the executive director of the South Bend Alumni Association, which raises money to benefit South Bend schools.[https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/education/former-mayor-steve-luecke-to-retire-as-leader-of-south/article_c574e5be-b433-11e7-9193-2f84869e0949.html Former mayor Steve Luecke to retire as leader of South Bend Alumni Association], South Bend Tribune (October 18, 2017). After retiring as executive director, he was named the association's board of trustees.{{cite web |title=HOF-Program-2019-FINAL.pdf |url=http://southbendalumni.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/HOF-Program-2019-FINAL.pdf |publisher=South Bend Alumni Association |accessdate=14 November 2020}}

Luecke participated in developing the Near Northwest Neighborhood Quality of Life Plan in 2013 for Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.{{cite web |title=Near Northwest Neighborhood Quality of Life Plan |url=http://www.nearnorthwest.org/nnwn/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Final-QOL-Plan.pdf |publisher=Near Northwest Neighborhood Incorporated |accessdate=20 November 2020 |date=2013}}

In July 2014, Luecke joined his mayoral predecessor Joe Kernan and other South Bend community leaders in holding a press conference condemning the conduct of the South Bend Common Council.{{cite web |title=Kernan: Common Council 'far out of control' |url=https://wsbt.com/news/local/kernan-common-council-far-out-of-control |publisher=WSBT-TV |accessdate=October 29, 2019 |date=July 9, 2014}}

Luecke serves as a commissioner on the Housing Authority of South Bend board.{{cite web |last1=Parrott |first1=Jeff |title=South Bend Housing Authority board meets behind closed doors to discuss 'a lot of things' |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/state-says-south-bend-housing-authority-board-illegally-met-behind-closed-doors/article_edd44ebc-237c-11eb-8ec9-63d315a82c19.html |website=South Bend Tribune |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=en |date=11 November 2020}} During part of his tenure on the board, he has served as its vice president.{{cite web |last1=Bauer |first1=Caleb |title=Housing authority hires interim director, but still won't say why former director was fired |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/housing-authority-hires-interim-director-but-still-wont-say-why-former-director-was-fired/article_9d06b8b7-921a-5ac2-bfd6-a0a927f5f23e.html |website=South Bend Tribune |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=en |date=24 October 2019}}

In the 2019 South Bend mayoral election, Luecke endorsed his former special assistant Lynn Coleman in his, ultimately unsuccessful, bid for the Democratic nomination.{{cite news |title=Where are the voters? New mayor of South Bend could be decided by small numbers |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/elections/where-are-the-voters-new-mayor-of-south-bend-could/article_7e9395db-f75a-528c-a954-3ebcf1d429ba.html |newspaper=South Bend Tribune |date=April 29, 2019 |accessdate=May 24, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Kyle W. |title=Former South Bend Mayor Luecke endorses Lynn Coleman |url=https://southbendvoice.com/2019/04/24/former-south-bend-mayor-luecke-endorses-lynn-coleman/ |newspaper=South Bend Voice |date=April 24, 2019 |accessdate=May 24, 2019}}

In November 2022, the City of South Bend added Luecke's name to the names of Brownfield Park and the Coal Line Trail, which were rededicated after him. Luecke is only the fourth mayor in the city to have a park named after him.{{cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Mark |title=South Bend dedicates park, trail to former Mayor Stephen Luecke |url=https://www.wndu.com/2022/11/11/south-bend-dedicates-park-trail-former-mayor-stephen-luecke/ |website=www.wndu.com |publisher=WNDU-TV |access-date=12 November 2022 |language=en |date=November 11, 2022}}

{{expand list|date=October 2020}}

;1999

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 1999 South Bend Democratic mayoral primary{{cite web |title= Democratic Primary Mayoral Elections South Bend |url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/mayoral/index.jsp!town=South+Bend&party=Democratic.html |website=www.in.gov |publisher=Indiana Secretary of State |date=July 21, 1999 |accessdate=October 12, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519235359/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/mayoral/index.jsp!town=South+Bend&party=Democratic.html |archivedate=May 19, 2009}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 8,265

| percentage = 61.49

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = John Voorde

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 4,214

| percentage = 31.35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kevin C. Horton

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 855

| percentage = 6.36

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Zbigniew "Ziggy" Borowski

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 108

| percentage = 0.80

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 13,442

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 1999 South Bend mayoral election{{cite journal |title=Indiana 2003 Racing Form Indiana 2003 Mayoral Races |journal=The Howey Political Report |date=February 27, 2003 |volume=9 |issue=26 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPR0926.pdf.pdf |accessdate=September 10, 2019}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 13,678

| percentage = 68.39

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Steven Bradley

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 6,321

| percentage = 31.61

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19,999

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2003

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2003 South Bend Democratic mayoral primary{{cite web |title=Historical Election Results |url=https://indianavoters.in.gov/ENRHistorical/ElectionResults?year=2003 |website=Indiana.gov Voter Portal |accessdate=September 7, 2019}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 7,480

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 7,480

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2003 South Bend mayoral election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 10,598

| percentage = 71.68

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Thomas R. Schmidt

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 4,188

| percentage = 28.32

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 14,786

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2007

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2007 South Bend Democratic mayoral primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 4,781

| percentage = 79.12

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = William F. Davis

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,262

| percentage = 20.88

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6,043

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2007 South Bend mayoral election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 12,355

| percentage = 62.14

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Juan A. Manigault

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 7,471

| percentage = 37.57

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Thomas Eugene Brown (write-in)

| party = Green Party (United States)

| votes = 58

| percentage = 0.29

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19,884

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{succession box | before = Joe E. Kernan| | title = Mayor of South Bend, Indiana| | years = 1997-2012 | after = Pete Buttigieg}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luecke, Steve}}

Category:Mayors of South Bend, Indiana

Category:Indiana Democrats

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American politicians

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Indiana

Category:People from Freeport, Illinois

Category:Fordham University alumni

Category:1950 births