Joe Kernan (politician)

Joe Kernan
Kernan in 2008
48th Governor of Indiana
In office
September 13, 2003 – January 10, 2005
LieutenantKathy Davis
Preceded byFrank O'Bannon
Succeeded byMitch Daniels
47th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
In office
January 13, 1997 – September 13, 2003
GovernorFrank O'Bannon
Preceded byFrank O'Bannon
Succeeded byKathy Davis
30th Mayor of South Bend
In office
January 3, 1988 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byRoger Parent
Succeeded bySteve Luecke
South Bend Controller
In office
January 1, 1980 – February 17, 1984
Appointed byRoger Parent
Preceded byPeter Mullen
Succeeded byMichael Vance
Personal details
Born
Joseph Eugene Kernan III

(1946-04-08)April 8, 1946
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 29, 2020(2020-07-29) (aged 74)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Resting placeCedar Grove Cemetery,
Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
(m. 1974)
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1969–1974 (Active)
1974–1982 (Reserve)
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart (2)
Air Medal (2)

Joseph Eugene Kernan III (April 8, 1946 – July 29, 2020) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served as the 48th governor of Indiana from 2003 to 2005.[1] He previously served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003 under Frank O'Bannon and succeeded the governorship after O'Bannon's death. Kernan had also served nearly a year as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Kernan joined the Navy in 1969. A naval aviator, he was shot down in North Vietnam and taken prisoner in 1972. After his release, Kernan continued on active duty through 1974. A member of the Democratic Party, Kernan served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and then as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003. He became governor on September 13, 2003, upon the death of Governor Frank O'Bannon. He lost an election to serve a full term as governor to former Office of Management and Budget director Mitch Daniels on November 2, 2004. Kernan returned to South Bend and retired from politics. As of 2024, he is the most recent governor of Indiana from the Democratic Party.

  1. ^ "Indiana Governor History: Joseph E. Kernan". Official Website of the State of Indiana. Retrieved July 26, 2019.