The 2015 election cycle continues at a brisk clip with the announcement of a new candidate for the South Bend Common Council.
Jo Broden has announced that she will run for South Bend Common Council in the 4th District as a Democrat, which is currently held by Fred Ferlic. She is the wife of state senator John Broden.
“As a product of the City of South Bend, I’ve been forged by outstanding schools, coaches and mentors, vibrant churches, effective social service institutions, an amazing park system that consumed my childhood energies, and a local economy that provided the jobs of my youth: a South Bend Tribune newspaper carrier, ND campus french fry flipper and ice cream soda jerk,” Broden said in her announcement.
Broden, who is a lifelong South Bend resident, graduated from LaSalle High School before being among the first three women awarded a full academic-athletic scholarship at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies. She later earned a Master’s degree in Applied Gerontology from Ball State.
“I was employed for 9 years as the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association of Northern Indiana, acquiring key contacts in business, government, health care, education, public safety and the not for profit sectors,” Broden says.
Then-governor Evan Bayh appointed her to the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Senile Dementia Task Force.
Broden points to her volunteer work as a source of civic engagement in the community. She has worked with St. Margaret’s House and St. Augustine Church’s Soup Kitchen for 16 years. She also helped the League of Women Voters as part of a drive to register young voters.
“As a long time board member, board secretary, and as chair of the St. Margaret’s House Winter Walk event, I have marshalled support to help meet the basic needs of the marginalized, while fostering programs and services to help individuals move out of poverty,” Broden says.
She also credits her work as an elected school board president at Holy Cross Parish with securing a quarter million dollars in capital funding and scholarship assistance.
“I’ll seize the opportunity in these next 5 months to engage the electorate in the important issues of our shared civic life and to make the case that I possess the work ethic, good judgment, vision, and skills to be an effective council member.”
Primary day in Indiana is Tuesday, May 5.
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