James Mueller (Indiana politician)

James Mueller
Mueller in 2016
33rd Mayor of South Bend
Assumed office
January 1, 2020
Preceded byPete Buttigieg
Director of Community Investment for South Bend, Indiana
In office
April 2017 – June 2019
MayorPete Buttigieg
Preceded byScott Ford[1]
Succeeded bySantiago Garces[2]
Chief of Staff to the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
In office
July 2015 – April 2017
MayorPete Buttigieg
Preceded byKathryn Roos
Succeeded byLaura O'Sullivan[3]
Personal details
Born (1982-06-29) June 29, 1982 (age 42)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Kellye Mitros
(m. 2020)
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA, BS)
University of Delaware (PhD)
Signature
Website

James Mueller (born June 29, 1982) is an American politician and academic serving as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana since 2020. Prior to being elected mayor, Mueller held positions within the administration of his predecessor Pete Buttigieg.

Mueller won the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary and went on to defeat a Republican opponent in the 2019 South Bend mayoral election. In both his primary and general election campaign, Mueller proposed continuing what he regarded to be positive progress made under Buttigieg, whose endorsement he carried. He was reelected by a wider margin in 2023.

His tenure as mayor included the COVID-19 pandemic, and he collaborated with St. Joseph County to respond to the pandemic. His mayoralty has also seen him address homelessness in the city. He has also overseen efforts to reform the South Bend Police Department, including an update to the police department's use of force policy.

  1. ^ Parrott, Jeff (April 13, 2017). "South Bend losing development leader". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Johnston, Ryan (November 16, 2020). "South Bend's former innovation chief returns for 'technified' community planning". StateScoop. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Buttigieg hires new chief of staff". South Bend Tribune. September 9, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2023.