This initiative reached its goal of repairing or demolishing 1,000 blighted properties across the city. A key initiative of Buttigieg's first term was his Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative, also known as '1,000 Properties in 1,000 Days'. He also oversaw the sale of numerous city-owned properties to private owners. As mayor, Buttigieg supported numerous private developments. Buttigieg opted against running for reelection in 2019, instead launching a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election.īuttigieg focused on urban development during his tenure. Coming out as gay in 2015, Buttigieg became the first elected official in Indiana to come out while in office, as well as the highest-ranking Indiana elected official to come out.
During his mayoralty, he acquired the nickname 'Mayor Pete'. Elected in 2011 as a Democrat, he took office in January 2012 at the age of 29, becoming the second-youngest mayor in South Bend history, and the youngest incumbent mayor, at the time, of a U.S. Pete Buttigieg served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 2012 to 2020.
