Meet the Candidates: Rod Goodchild, South Bend Common Council District 3

Rod-Goodchild

I’m Rod Goodchild and I’m running for 3rd District/Democrat…Learn, Lead and Serve. I am an Olympic-caliber athlete who graduated from Western Michigan University on an athletic Scholarship and received my master’s degree in regional planning from Ohio University. In 1973 I served with distinction as an intern my first year in Wilburton, Oklahoma with the Kiamichi Economic Development District. In my second year graduate program I was the recipient of the Latin American Studies award and witnessed up close and in person Third World living conditions in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I returned home from Central America with a new approach and appreciation for my community. We have a rich heritage in South Bend and I intend to focus on what I have heard going door to door … “Improve Quality of Life for ALL and Home Ownership.”

I not only excelled in the classroom, but was the only athlete from the USA to be honored and selected to train at the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport and won gold at the Australian Masters Championship in the 1500 meters. In 1971 I founded the Michiana Trailblazers and my very first motivational speaking engagement was at Marian High School Athletic Banquet. I spoke with passion and struck a chord with the Knights student athletes, “what one can Conceive and Believe…one can Achieve.”

In the 1970’s I worked in Iowa as a federal funds review officer for one of the largest health systems agency in the country. In 1980 I returned to Michiana as the head track and cross-country coach at Lake Michigan College. I was chairman and race director of the annual Welch’s 10K Grape Stomp and Children’s Fun Run from 1980-2000, bringing thousands of weekend runners/walkers into Michiana. I trained for the 1984 Olympics in Knoxville winning the Music City Run, March 1984. In 2005 I was with the very first group of athletes inducted into Marian High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

I have a passion to motivate youth to their full potential and have been recognized nationally as well as locally by Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Joe Kernan and Robert Beutter. Over the past couple of years I have teamed up with South Bend Common Council to bring PRIDE to my community. Through my leadership…my vision of bringing 10 dead oak tree stumps in Potawatomi Park into 10 Magical Spirit Animal Carvings, to empower our youth to dream big…Because SUCCESS is Achieved by those who Try and Try with a Positive Mental Attitude. This project was accomplished with a TEAM EFFORT at no cost to the taxpayers. I plan to use a similar model to infuse the drive, desire and determination and unite the council to bring back PRIDE of home ownership. I get the message loud and clear as I go door to door, “We need more HOME OWNERSHIP!” www.VoteGoodchild.com… Go for it… Vote G May 5th!!!

Meet the Candidates is a series introducing candidates in their own words. Articles are posted verbatim. South Bend Voice will publish articles for all South Bend office seekers who are on the May 5th primary ballot.

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