SOUTH BEND — Democrat Heidi Beidinger has been selected to take over the vacant 4th District South Bend Common Council seat, replacing former Councilmember Troy Warner following his appointment as chief of staff for Mayor James Mueller.
Beidinger was chosen during a May 20 caucus hosted by the St. Joseph County Democrats to choose a successor for Warner, who concluded his time on the Common Council on May 15 and, as of June 1, will begin as Mueller’s chief of staff.
She will serve for the remainder of Warner’s current four-year term, ending in 2027.
Beidinger announced her candidacy for the seat in mid-May, vowing to prioritize safe and healthy housing initiatives; protect public health and improve quality of life; and foster collaboration among residents, local government, schools and community organizations.
She is professor of the practice in the Eck Institute of Health at the University of Notre Dame, and she served as a member of and as president of the St. Joseph County Board of Health from 2016 to 2023.
In 2022 and 2024, Beidinger ran for the 5th District Indiana House of Representatives seat against Republican Dale DeVon and lost both times. According to previous Tribune reporting, she was quietly removed from the Board of Public Health because of a state statute that specified a list of professions from which a mayor can choose a candidate for the board. This list excluded public health professionals.
“My commitment is to serve District 4 with transparency, collaboration, and thoughtful leadership,” Beidinger said in her candidacy announcement. “Our community deserves safe neighborhoods, healthy housing, and responsive government.”
Email South Bend Tribune staff reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Beidinger chosen to replace Warner for vacant Common Council seat
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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