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whitewater facility. The idea for this project had predated Parent's tenure as mayor, and had been supported by his predecessor Peter J. Nemeth during the later part of his tenure. Ground broke on the project in 1982, and it was opened in 1984. The project had faced fierce opposition from "Fair Tax",
351:
In 2006, Parent and his wife
Rolande Parent founded the international nonprofit World Dignity Inc. (WDI), for which he has served as president. The nonprofit aims to help the poor by offering such assistance as teacher and student scholarships. The nonprofit operates educational programs in South
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issue Parent was pushing to fund the construction of the raceway along with several other projects. Fair Tax operated an opposition effort under the name "Citizens
Information Exchange". Originally asking for a $ 5.6 million bond issue to fund not only the waterway, but also additional projects,
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Parent had advertised the stadium as being a generator that would contribute to the development of the nearby "Studebaker
Corridor", which he argued would be key for the redevelopment city's southwest quadrant. He announced plans for the stadium in March 1985. The stadium received some notable
281:'s plant (located in the "Studebaker Corridor") could be a key asset in attracting new business and industry. However, this area did not see significant development during Parent's mayoralty, and would only far later see developments in the 2000s with the creation of such projects as
240:. He sought to increase employment and the city's tax base by providing direct assistance to new commercial and industrial development. He also sought to indirectly encourage new economic ventures by improving the city's amenities, particularly in its downtown area.
295:
As mayor, Parent also created several task forces, councils, and commissions, and organizations, including the Task Force on
Literacy, Council on Minority Affairs, Council on Older Adults, Commission on Energy Conservation, and the Business Development Corporation.
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Immediately after leaving office as mayor, Parent returned to his work with the Peace Corps, serving as the
Country Director for Haiti and Eastern Caribbean from January 1988 through June 1990. He also served in positions in the Peace Corps in
210:
From 1967 through 1970, Parent was the executive director of the South Bend chapter of
Neighborhood Development Centers. From 1971 through 1979 Parent was the executive director of the South Bend Office of Catholic Charities.
310:. Rumors arose that this decision was precipitated by controversy surrounding the construction of Coveleski Stadium, and poor internal polling results for his prospects of reelection. Parent was succeeded as mayor by
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board of directors, advisory committee for the Coady
International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University, retired Indiana Public Retirement Association, and REAL Services board of directors.
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Group 1 for the duration of his service. He taught carpentry at Udorn Trade School and ESL at a Girls’ Handicraft School. He also served as a volunteer field leader.
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During his tenure, Parent made a few hires which were the first for the city in regards to diversity. This included the city's first female city attorney, first
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From 1972 through 1980, Parent served as a member of the South Bend Common
Council. For five of his eight years on the Common Council, he was its president.
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In his first term, most of his redevelopment efforts were especially focused on the east side of South Bend's downtown business district.
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plant on the far west side of the city, which was designed to employ 150 people. The ethanol plant also faced opposition from "Fair Tax".
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of the South Bend
Community School Corp. For part of his tenure, beginning in January 2011, he was the president of the school board.
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173:. He attended elementary school in Grand Isle, Maine. He graduated from Van Buren Boys High School salutatorian of his class.
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In the early 1990s, Parent worked as the Deputy
Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Mental Health.
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opposition from citizens and groups, including Fair Tax. The stadium was built, despite this opposition.
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Another key project he successfully championed in his first term was the construction of a $ 141 million
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a small citizen's association of St. Joseph County taxpayers. The opposition particularly dealt with the
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in Thailand as a deputy director at the Tsunami Volunteer Center, working on the response to the
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Parent served as director of development for Priests of Holy Cross from 1994 through 2003.
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in conjunction with the nearby University of Notre Dame, with Parent playing a role.
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As mayor, Parent believed that underutilized land at the 220-acre former site of the
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180:, where he graduated in 1961 magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics.
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187:. He was a member of the inaugural class of Peace Corps volunteers. He served in
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Parent continues to reside in South Bend. Parent and his wife Rolande Parent (
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A key project of Parent's second term was the funding and the construction of
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Parent ultimately settled for a $ 3.2 million bond just to fund the waterway.
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Among the key projects of Parent's mayoralty was the construction of the
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897:"Buttigieg raises nearly a quarter of a million dollars in mayor's race"
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From May 2005 through November 2005, Parent volunteered with the
381:'s, ultimately successful, candidacy for mayor of South Bend in
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385:. Parent had endorsed Buttigieg at the start of his campaign.
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For five years, from 2009 through 2014, Parent served on the
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From October 1961 through October 1963, Parent served in the
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Parent has also served on the Social Work Advisory Board of
625:"Viewpoint: Addressing diversity in South Bend's workforce"
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fire chief, and first female director of code enforcement.
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Parent announced he would not run for a third term in the
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Minor League Baseball and Local Economic Development
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920:"New faces await Indiana Dems as the guard changes"
703:"A look back at former South Bend mayors: Part One"
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674:Johnson, Arthur T. (1995). "South Bend, Indiana".
153:is an American politician who served as the 29th
874:"Roger Parent leaving South Bend school board"
233:Parent was sworn in as mayor in January 1980.
226:, and was reelected to a second term as mayor
222:Parent was first elected mayor of South Bend
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400:) have four children and six grandchildren.
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78:President of the South Bend Common Council
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198:, from which he graduated in 1966 with a
739:"East Race Waterway celebrates 30 years"
346:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
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94:Member of the South Bend Common Council
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7:
499:"Author Biography | Roger O. Parent"
457:"Rebuilding Hope One Boat At A Time"
49:January 1980 – January 1988
822:"MONOGRAM CLUB CORNER – JOE KERNAN"
820:Chval, Craig (September 24, 2010).
918:Howey, Brian A. (April 28, 2011).
14:
952:McGurk, Nick (January 29, 2011).
792:"SPECIAL OLYMPICS PREMIERE ISSUE"
623:Parent, Roger (August 10, 2019).
455:Holguin, Jaime (June 17, 2005).
954:"Buttigieg announces candidacy"
895:McGurk, Nick (April 17, 2011).
288:In 1987, South Bend hosted the
737:Blasko, Erin (July 19, 2013).
680:. University of Illinois Press
1:
985:Mayors of South Bend, Indiana
872:Kilbride, Kim (May 2, 2014).
846:Baines, Don (July 26, 1987).
411:, with some understanding of
178:St. Francis Xavier University
598:"Parent's record of service"
290:Special Olympics World Games
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760:Molnar, Judy (July 1987).
762:"Mayor welcomes athletes"
194:Parent then attended the
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196:University of Notre Dame
165:Early life and education
824:. Notre Dame University
927:Howey Politics Indiana
848:"CLASS A CONTROVERSY"
567:. Friends of Thailand
422:Parent is a hobbyist
876:. South Bend Tribune
741:. South Bend Tribune
403:Parent is fluent in
352:Bend, Thailand, and
238:economic development
503:www.rogerparent.org
372:St. Frances Academy
236:Parent prioritized
159:South Bend, Indiana
37:Mayor of South Bend
18:American politician
629:South Bend Tribune
602:South Bend Tribune
436:C-SPAN appearances
368:St. Mary's College
245:East Race Waterway
995:Indiana Democrats
562:"Roger O. Parent"
505:. Roger O. Parent
377:Parent supported
268:Coveleski Stadium
171:Grand Isle, Maine
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140:Rolande Ouellette
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801:. August 1, 1987
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176:Parent attended
169:Parent was born
114:Personal details
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713:. May 22, 2015
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379:Pete Buttigieg
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250:municipal bond
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799:The Observer
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770:The Observer
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122:1938 or 1939
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67:Succeeded by
60:Peter Nemeth
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25:Roger Parent
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963:October 31,
880:October 31,
805:October 31,
776:October 31,
745:October 31,
717:October 31,
684:October 31,
634:October 31,
466:October 31,
185:Peace Corps
55:Preceded by
979:Categories
442:References
279:Studebaker
131:Democratic
424:carpenter
314:in 1988.
218:Mayoralty
105:1972–1980
101:In office
85:In office
45:In office
325:Bulgaria
189:Thailand
958:WNDU-TV
711:WBND-LD
409:English
329:Grenada
258:ethanol
228:in 1983
224:in 1979
89:???–???
903:May 5,
899:. WNDU
608:May 5,
571:May 5,
509:May 5,
405:French
137:Spouse
923:(PDF)
795:(PDF)
765:(PDF)
707:ABC57
565:(PDF)
354:India
155:mayor
35:29th
965:2019
939:2019
933:(33)
905:2019
882:2019
859:2019
830:2019
807:2019
778:2019
747:2019
719:2019
686:2019
636:2019
610:2020
573:2020
511:2020
468:2019
415:and
413:Thai
407:and
383:2011
327:and
119:Born
461:CBS
396:née
157:of
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