The government today

NOVEMBER 2026

The present government, verified at this writing: Mishawaka is governed in November 2026 by Mayor Dave Wood, Republican, in office since September 7, 2010 — sixteen years — and serving in 2025 as president of Aim, Accelerate Indiana Municipalities, the state's municipal association, to which he was elected on October 10, 2024, taking office January 1, 2025. The Common Council numbers nine members — six from districts, three at large — meeting on the first and third Mondays at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Lincolnway West; the council as seated through 2026 is Dale "Woody" Emmons, Matt Carroll, Lou Ann Hazen, Kate Voelker, Tony Violi and Ron Banicki from the six districts, with Gregg Hixenbaugh — the council's president in 2026 — Matt Mammolenti and Lacy Hahn at large. The City Clerk is Deborah S. Block, whose office signs the council's notices; the city elected a clerk, in the Indiana second-class-city form, rather than a clerk-treasurer. The government is a working one in the record of this very month: the council sat on November 9, 2026, adopted a declaratory resolution on an economic revitalization area on October 19, 2026, and has had an annexation ordinance — the Veterans Parkway right-of-way north to Cleveland Road — in hearing during 2026. A city that began as a furnace company's plat still annexes, still zones, and still meets on Mondays.

Sources:

1. City of Mishawaka (mishawaka.in.gov) — council meeting notices and annual notice (January 6, 2026), the October 19, 2026 declaratory resolution R2026-34 signed by City Clerk Deborah S. Block, the 2026 annexation hearing notice for Proposed Ordinance 2026-08, and the scheduled council sitting of November 9, 2026.
2. Mishawaka Common Council minutes, February 2 and May 4, 2026 (CivicClerk) — the nine members in roll, Gregg Hixenbaugh presiding as Council President, the clerk calling roll as Debbie Ladyga-Block.
3. South Bend Regional Chamber, Mishawaka city officials roster — the six districts and three at-large seats with their holders; Mayor Dave Wood; City Clerk Deborah Ladyga-Block.
4. South Bend News-Times, October 15, 2026 — Wood's mayoralty at sixteen years, current at this writing. Aim (Accelerate Indiana Municipalities) — Wood's presidency for 2025.