South Bend Fire Merit Board formation delayed by lack of Republican candidate

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20-02-2025

SOUTH BEND — The formation of the South Bend police and fire merit boards faces setbacks due to requirements in the application and election processes.
Both boards were set to vote in two commissioners during a members-only meeting in early February. During the fire board's election Feb. 6, members chose Board of Public Safety President Dan Jones — who applied for both police and fire merit boards — as the Democrat seatholder. Jones said he's trying to figure out how to serve on both the Board of Public Safety and the fire merit board.
'It's all new,' Jones said.
The fire merit board, which chose to follow the state model unlike the police merit board, requires its two appointed members to be of different political parties and to provide voter registration from the three most recent primary elections.
'The Republican spot has not been filled. There was not a candidate put forward for that spot,' Adam Taylor, attorney for the fire department, said at the Feb. 19 Board of Public Safety meeting.
Fire members will decide how this process will move forward, Taylor said. When they have a list of candidates ready, they'll need to set another election, giving three weeks' notice, he said.
Board of Public Safety member Pam Claeys voiced disapproval for the political affiliation stipulation.
'It shouldn't be a political thing. It should be an experiential thing,' Claeys said.
Board of Public Safety attorney Danielle Weiss said the political affiliation requirement makes the application process more 'challenging,' saying, 'It is a lot harder to find someone that checks all the boxes.'
The police merit board did not appoint anyone during its Feb. 7 meeting because of an error in the list of applicants.
'There was a name that wasn't put on the list,' South Bend Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski confirmed.
Fraternal Order of Police President Joshua Morgan told The Tribune they'll have to vote at a later date.
The common council is holding interviews this week to narrow down applicants to a single appointee. South Bend Mayor Muller will also appoint two commissioners, of differing political parties. Their appointments must be done by March 1, Taylor said.
Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Board of Public Safety president voted to South Bend Fire Merit Board