Several contested primaries for county council; candidates share views

The South Bend Tribune, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and Indiana University South Bend, has published candidate responses for the upcoming St. Joseph County Council primaries. The election could shift the balance of power on the council, which currently holds a 5-4 Republican majority. A central theme in the candidates' platforms is their stance on data center development within the county. Republican candidate Amy Drake, an incumbent council member, stated she voted against data centers in Granger and New Carlisle due to significant citizen opposition and opposed a $4 billion tax abatement for Amazon, deeming it unnecessary. Fellow Republican Jamie O'Brien prioritized preventing further industrialization of Granger, explicitly opposing future data centers, rail line expansions, and large solar projects, suggesting two data centers in the county might already be too many. Republican Dan Schaetzle expressed support for responsible development but believes two data centers are the county's maximum, advocating for Microsoft to adhere to environmental and noise ordinances and opposing further rezoning near existing projects. Democratic candidates Lori Camp and Dave Thomas emphasized responsive government, fiscal responsibility, and careful evaluation of large-scale projects based on community input and long-term impact. Thomas warned against 'white elephants' that consume too much while offering little benefit, stressing the protection of land, water, and air for future generations. Republican Matthew Clayton also highlighted the need for responsible, environmentally sound developments, advocating for property tax relief from new developments and scrutinizing abatements.