HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-2026 Council President Canneth Lee Responds to Mayor Mueller's Veto
South Bend Common Council
Canneth Lee
First (1st) District Councilmember
President
INTEGRITY | SERVICE | ACCESSIBILITY
EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT
300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574-235-5980 | f. 574-235-9173 | clee@southbendin.gov
PRESS RELEASE
SUBJECT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANNETH LEE RESPONDS TO MAYOR MUELLER’S VETO OF
BILL 26-21
DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026
FROM: CANNETH LEE, FIRST (1ST) DISTRICT CITY COUNCILMEMBER, CITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT
CONTACT: sbcityclerk@southbendin.gov
Council President Canneth Lee Responds to Mayor Mueller’s Veto of Bill No. 26-21
South Bend, IN — South Bend Common Council President Canneth Lee issued the following
statement in response to Mayor James Mueller’s veto of Bill No. 26-21:
“Mayor Mueller’s veto focuses on legal technicalities, but it does not address the reason the
Common Council passed Bill No. 26-21.
This legislation was never about expanding the Council’s authority. It was about ensuring that
property owners along the proposed route are properly notified before decisions are made and
that the Common Council has a defined role early in the process—not after key decisions have
already been made.
The Common Council has never disputed its existing authority over zoning, annexation, or
eminent domain. Our concern has always been transparency, public notification, and meaningful
public involvement.
While the procedural concerns raised in the veto deserve consideration, they do not change the
underlying issue: residents deserve timely information about projects that may affect their
property, and their elected representatives should have a voice before major decisions are made.
South Bend Common Council
Canneth Lee
First (1st) District Councilmember
President
INTEGRITY | SERVICE | ACCESSIBILITY
EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT
300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574-235-5980 | f. 574-235-9173 | clee@southbendin.gov
The Common Council remains committed to working with the Mayor’s Office, state officials,
and community stakeholders to ensure that future decisions are transparent, collaborative, and
respectful of the residents we all serve.”
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