Candidates discuss local issues at forums

St. Joseph County sheriff candidates Democrat Scott Ruszkowski and Republican Rod Laureys met at a South Bend community forum ahead of the Nov. 3 election, answering questions on gun violence, mental health crisis response, jail ministry, immigration and accountability. Ruszkowski argued that preventing gun violence requires a community-wide effort, drawing on his experience as South Bend’s police chief, while Laureys emphasized prevention, partnerships and coordination among law enforcement agencies. The candidates received the same questions and had limited time to respond. Attendees also urged the candidates to address the school-to-prison pipeline and work with others to confront racial disparities in the justice system.