Maybe you’ve concluded that the government doesn’t care about making daily life better. But the pothole on the way to work, the county park that’s been neglected and the data center proposed in the next town over all have something in common: They’re decided on by elected officials in St. Joseph County and at the Indiana Statehouse.
That we all experience these consequences whether we vote or not undercuts your ability to opt out of politics. The only way to make real change is to start stepping into the scene. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the New Carlisle data center.
Your participation makes a difference
On Dec. 9, 2025, the County Council held a public meeting to present the final version of Bill 42-25 that would have rezoned about 1,000 acres of farmland to industrial to accommodate a 14-building data center. Supporters emphasized that the developer would pay roughly $13 billion to build the campus; however, the project itself would benefit the community with investment, the jobs it could create and the tax revenue it could generate.
But opponents of the data center came on strong. According to minutes from the St. Joseph County Council’s meeting Dec. 9, 2025, out of 88 public comments recorded, 73 were against the project, voicing concerns about farmland; water and energy use; and the development’s effects on the overall character of New Carlisle.[8]
Council members questioned the developers and their representatives for hours, demanding hard facts and figures that were not always provided. There were a lot of unknowns with the project, including whether a tenant would ever inhabit the campus.
There was a lot on the line, and residents showed up to that December 9 meeting to exercise their civic right to voice those concerns to their elected officials and more. Local boards met for hours about the proposal, and it seemed to have paid off. After a 10-hour meeting that lasted until 4 a.m., County Council members questioned supporters for hours. After a County Council meeting that lasted about 10 hours and included extensive public comment that went into the early morning hours, the council rejected the rezoning in a 7-2 vote.[10][8]
Whatever position you take on the project, the process demonstrates something important: Local decisions are not always predetermined, and public participation is not always ceremonial. It means something and can make a difference in the outcome.
Mistrust isn’t indifference
Evidence points to a broken political system, and when election time creeps up, candidates appear more interested in defeating one another than solving the problems everyday citizens face.
Retreating from politics might feel like a measure of self-protection, and with all the rhetoric spinning, it’s understandable at some level. But remaining disengaged with what’s happening on a local level can lead to outcomes that directly affect the people and places around you.
According to the Indiana Bar Foundation, Indiana ranked 50th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in voter turnout in the 2022 midterm election, with 41.9% of eligible voters casting a ballot. Turnout improved during the 2024 presidential election, but Indiana’s ranking of 41st still left it behind most of the country.[1]
And while national politics may be the draw for higher turnout, the decisions made at the ballot box are felt much closer to home.
Local politics is your immediate concern
Think about the basic facts: County and city officials consider the issues that affect your daily life and the future of the county. So when a local issue arises that is problematic, like that data center in New Carlisle, the people elected to county spots are the ones who will ultimately cast those yes or no votes.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is the county’s executive and administrative authority. Commissioners oversee county facilities and property, contracts, purchasing and other county operations. The nine-member County Council holds the county’s fiscal and legislative power, including responsibility for taxation, finance and the county budget. Within South Bend, the mayor oversees city departments, while the nine-member Common Council considers budgets, salaries, fees, zoning and ordinances that become part of the municipal code.[2][3][4]
Together, these local bodies determine how public money is spent and what can be built. County and city departments carry out decisions involving road maintenance, emergency services, parks, code enforcement, housing development and taxes.[3][4][5]
And that’s just an overview. If you’re a parent, Indiana lawmakers shape public school funding through the state budget and tuition-support formula, while local school boards approve district budgets and spending. When developers want to build on a wooded parcel, a rezoning request moves through the local planning process, including a public hearing and a recommendation to the appropriate council. In both cases, residents have opportunities to make their positions known before decisions are final.[6][7]
“The room where it happens”
The local government makes decisions in rooms most people have never entered. That isn’t meant to exclude anyone, but it does make it difficult to find out what’s going on in your backyard — unless you know where to look.
Agendas and minutes for St. Joseph County boards and commissions are posted online. Proposals move through a process that can include committee consideration and public hearings before they are approved or denied.[7][9]
The process can be confusing, especially when information is scattered across several boards and committees. And while it may seem daunting, paying attention can help residents understand where tax dollars are being used, and some of those allocations may not be aligned with what the everyday person expects.
It may seem overwhelming to figure out how local government works and which issues need attention before they reach a final decision. It all starts with finding your representatives at the state and local levels. Go to the Indiana General Assembly to identify your state representatives. For St. Joseph County, a district map showing each council member’s area is available here. Navigate through the general St. Joseph County website to find each level of public official.
Take one step toward involvement
Identifying representatives is the first step toward becoming more engaged in the local political scene. But why stop there? Choose an issue that’s concerning now and start following it.
For instance, if property taxes are a concern and an upcoming decision may affect whether the bill will cost more, use the St. Joseph County website and find out which government body controls that part of the bill. Has traffic near the elementary school become dangerous? Learn who owns the road and which officials determine its funding.
Then act.
Contact your representatives. Send an email voicing your concerns. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to convey what matters to you. Go to a public meeting and, if you’re able, get your comments on the official record. As the New Carlisle vote demonstrated, when the community comes together, it can sway the government. It’s up to residents to provide insight that isn’t in a written staff report — namely, how something could affect their family, neighborhood or business.
And while the results may not always be ideal, it will get you more involved in the process. Doing so doesn’t guarantee overall frustration with the government will disappear, but it can help you pay closer attention and ask officials to do their jobs rather than trusting them with blind faith. When officials know constituents are active in shaping the community, they have another reason to listen closely.
When residents enter the local political arena and ask representatives to consider their concerns before voting, they become part of the decision. It doesn’t always mean the votes will fall the way they want.
And that’s politics. It isn’t the ads or the public discord before an election. It’s the community coming together to decide what does and doesn’t happen in your backyard.
Source notes
1. Indiana Bar Foundation, Indiana Bar Foundation Releases 2025 Indiana Civic Health Index, Jan. 21, 2026. https://www.inbarfoundation.org/indiana-bar-foundation-releases-2025-indiana-civic-health-index-highlighting-voting-gains-and-opportunities-to-strengthen-civic-connection/
2. St. Joseph County, Board of Commissioners. https://www.sjcindiana.gov/402/Board-of-Commissioners
3. St. Joseph County, County Council. https://www.sjcindiana.gov/2386/County-Council
4. City of South Bend, Common Council. https://southbendin.gov/department/common-council/
5. St. Joseph County, Highway. https://www.sjcindiana.gov/2298/Highway
6. Indiana Department of Education, Office of School Finance, State Tuition Support Information, Oct. 10, 2025. https://www.in.gov/doe/files/SAMS-10.10.25.pdf
7. St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission, About Us and Rezoning Process. https://www.sjcindiana.gov/2142/About-Us
8. WSBT 22, “St. Joseph County Council denies land rezoning for data center,” Dec. 10, 2025. https://wsbt.com/news/local/st-joseph-county-council-denies-rezoning-of-land-for-data-center-votes-7-2-marathon-meeting-hours-long-public-opinion-13-billion-dollar-project-amazon-new-carlisle-approval-process-plan-commission-st-joseph-county-indiana
9. St. Joseph County, Agenda Center. https://www.sjcindiana.gov/agendacenter
10. St. Joseph County Council. “Meeting Minutes.” Dec. 9, 2025. https://docaccess.com/docviewer.html
