Ladyga-Block elected to ninth term as city clerk in Mishawaka

MISHAWAKA — Incumbent Democrat Debbie Ladyga-Block claimed a 10-point victory to secure her ninth term as Mishawaka City Clerk in Tuesday's municipal elections.

But, despite Ladyga-Block’s long history as the city's clerk, the race proved to be a competitive one, even though the unofficial vote tallies eventually came in at 55% for Ladyga-Block and 45% for Republican challenger LouAnn Hazen.

Hazen out-raised Ladyga-Block, with more than $50,000 to $30,352. But a single $100 campaign contribution to the incumbent may have had an outsized effect on the race.

Without officially endorsing her, Mayor Dave Wood donated that $100 to Ladyga-Block's campaign, despite being a Republican and despite Hazen having been his longtime executive assistant until she resigned to run for city clerk.

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Ladyga-Block believes that the seemingly unusual demonstration of cross-party support is indicative of the bipartisan nature of Mishawaka's government that makes it work so well.

"I think it is unique, and we should be a model for the rest of the country," she said. "We have a good mix of politics in Mishawaka. We have a Republican mayor, a Democratic clerk, and most of the time, our council is Democrat-controlled — and we work well together."

But Hazen views Wood's donation as a betrayal, and she's not alone among Mishawaka Republicans in believing that after two Republican incumbents lost their seats Tuesday on the Common Council, which allowed Democrats to expand their majority to 7-2.

"I was very hurt, because I worked for him for 11 and a half years," she said. "I sacrificed everything for his office, his family, and I'm a little bitter over it."

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Referring to Tribune political columnist Jack Cowell's interview with Wood, she said "I think the mayor backing the Democrats didn't help us Republicans" as a whole.

"The candidates did it themselves, but we supported them as much as possible, and we are incredibly happy with the results," St. Joseph County Democratic Party Committee Vice Chair Dr. Don Westerhausen said at the Democrats' watch party at De Amici's Italian Club. "The GOP threw their resources in at Mishawaka, so it was so great we were able to take two seats."

With her victory, Ladyga-Block will begin her ninth term in January, after having first been elected in 1992. Her longevity, however, is one reason Hazen, whose husband, Tony, ran unopposed to retain his seat as the representative for District 3 on Mishawaka's Common Council, challenged her.

"I wanted to run for city clerk because I felt that the current city clerk is a career politician," she said. "She's been there for way too long and the office needed to be brought up to the next level of customer service."

But Ladyga-Block sees her experience as why Mishawaka's residents re-elected her.

"Mishawaka has always looked beyond the money and they've looked at the fact that people have experience or they don't," Ladyga-Block said at De Amici's. "They saw me and they said I have the most experience and qualifications, and it shone through. Mishawaka voters have always been very astute and they made the decision, and I am very very honored to continue to be the city clerk."

For her next term, Ladyga-Block emphasizes the continuing importance of local government to the community. During her next term, she will work to maintain her certifications as an Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk and a Master Municipal Clerk in order to fulfill her duties in the most effective manner possible.

"I look at my credentials, and in order to maintain those credentials, I have to do my continuing education," she said. "Without that continuing education, the clerk's office would not thrive the way it does."

Ladyga-Block said that "(Mishawaka's government officials) are people of common sense with the same goals in mind, to keep Mishawaka running in a smooth and wonderful manner.”

Tribune correspondent Melissa Jackson contributed to this story.

Email Tribune staff writer Katherine Conway at kconway1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Debbie Ladyga-Block wins re-election for Mishawaka city clerk