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Presidential Candidate Profile: Pete Buttigieg

(Image credit: https://peteforamerica.com, 2019)

In this week's edition of my Presidential Candidate Profile series, I'd like to spotlight another candidate out of the 10 remaining candidates in the Democratic Presidential Primaries. Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend Indiana is one of several strong moderate contenders for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. He's come a long way from his mayoral roots in South Bend and is gaining quite a lot of popularity in the polls. Mr. Buttigieg justifies his candidacy in large part, on his mayoralty of South Bend, Ind., and the civic revitalization that occurred there during his two terms in office. What many Democratic voters want is a candidate who can beat President Trump in our upcoming election. Electability is always crucial for any candidate but a special emphasis seems to be placed upon this factor due to the sitting president's strong voting bloc of middle-class voters and rural voters. Much like Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Buttigieg is a moderate candidate whose views appeal to a larger audience of Independents, Democrats, and even some Republicans. The ability to cast a wider net in the political sense will be key to a strong democratic campaign in the 2020 election.

Unlike Yang or Gabbard, Mr. Buttigieg is not what one might call a 'niche' candidate, as he has no Universal Basic Income or "end to the forever wars" policy to rely on. What he lacks in flashy policies and allure he makes up for in broader appeal and a can-do attitude. During Mr. Buttigieg's tenure as Mayor of South Bend, he helped to revive a dying town as well getting people to believe in South Bend again. But his impact on the northern Indiana city, known by many as the current home of Notre Dame, has been a little more subtle. An analysis of his time in office shows the millennial mayor adopting, and often successfully implementing, the strategies experts point to when advising locals on how to rebuild better urban communities. One of Mayor Pete's signature initiatives, the $25 million Smart Streets plan, reshaped downtown with new streetscapes and pedestrian areas when it was completed in 2017, turning the one-way roads into two-way streets lined with trees, bike paths, and decorative brickwork. Mr. Buttigieg is essentially employing strategies to build an economic base for the future, in fact, Buttigieg claims that the city saw $90 million worth of downtown investment due to the more walkable urban core. "We've restructured our streets and downtown to make for a more vibrant city life," he wrote. Many of Buttigieg's supporters actually idolize his revitalization of South Bend as a reflection of what he could do for the nation at large. Pete Buttigieg is also a candidate of firsts. Buttigieg, if elected, will be the United States' first openly gay president as well as the first millennial presidential candidate to be elected to office. This is actually indicative that is occurring across the country. Younger candidates are seeking office to advocate for interests that aren't necessarily shared by older generations. Millennials are beginning to assert themselves as a powerful political force in modern America. Exactly how will this trend impact America? Well, only time will tell.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg and his campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president gets noticed quite a lot these days. He's fluent in multiple languages, comfortable talking about his religious beliefs, and part of a "generation that is stepping forward right now." He's a young, intellectual candidate increasing in star power as he slowly ascends the rankings of Democratic presidential hopefuls.

However, Buttigieg is not without his fair share of controversy. In November, his campaign faced a backlash against its usage of a stock photo portraying a Kenyan woman and her son for Pete Buttigieg's plan to combat racial inequality, which he described as a "comprehensive investment in the empowerment of black America." The photo mix-up is just the latest controversy to erupt around the plan since it was rolled out in July as part of Buttigieg's effort to make inroads with black voters. While recent polling has shown Buttigieg surging toward the front of the crowded Democratic presidential field in Iowa, the candidate has struggled to draw support from African Americans. According to The Washington Post, "The photo was one of several featuring people of color that ran on the page touting the Douglass Plan. Named after abolitionist and activist Frederick Douglass, the plan aims to 'dismantle racist structures and systems' in the United States by proposing changes to the country's health, education, and criminal justice systems."

Since the fallout from the original photo, the Buttigieg Campaign has removed it from the campaign website and any promotional material associated with the Douglass Plan.

Buttigieg wants to revitalize the U.S. just as he did in South Bend. He intends to build an economic base for the future that will change both the American experience and American infrastructure as a whole. To some, it may seem odd that a two-term mayor is seeking the Democratic nomination for president. What does a small-town mayor know about running a nation? These are questions that rightfully deserve to be asked. If anything, I think his two terms as mayor are indicative of how a Buttigieg presidency might impact America. But can a two-term mayor revitalize a nation? I ask that you consider this candidate and his unique position on domestic affairs and building an economic base for the future.

"Greatness will come by looking forward - untethered from the politics of the past and anchored by our shared values - and by changing our nation's future."

• Pete Buttigieg

As members of one of the largest democracies in the world, it's important that we take our election process seriously. One way of going about this is to inform yourself on both policy and the candidates. That's exactly what I intended to do with this article. As I continue the series, I'll highlight other candidates within the race and why you should consider them. I believe that it is uniquely our right and duty to stay informed. It's our job as citizens to hold our government accountable to the will of the governed.

"We hold it in our power to begin the world anew". (Thomas Paine -1776)

Thanks for reading my article,

• Cole E. Breen

If I've piqued your interest in this particular candidate I've provided a link to their campaign website below where you can find more information about their policies and or running platform.

(Link: https://peteforamerica.com/)