SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Friday South Bend Mayor James Mueller announced today that his Chief of Staff, Kacey Gergely, is resigning her position at the beginning of the year and the search for her successor has already begun.

“Kacey Gergely has served alongside me every step of the way, tackling the many challenging issues facing the city,” Mueller said. “Her intellect and dedication to public service have helped us to deliver results for South Bend, particularly on health and public safety. I will miss her as a member of the leadership team but wish her continued success as she moves forward in her career.”

According to the mayor's office, Gergely played a key role in managing many of the administration’s most important efforts, including the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of leading practices in 21st Century Policing, and increases in police officer pay and staffing levels. 

Most recently, she guided the mayor’s successful re-election strategy.

“I am incredibly grateful to Mayor Mueller for the opportunity to serve the residents of South Bend over the past four years and for the entire duration of his first term in office,” said Gergely. “This has been the honor of a lifetime and was a very difficult decision to make. I am incredibly proud of the team and the progress we have made to improve the lives of the residents of South Bend. I look forward to watching the city continue to grow and thrive.”

Gergely is leaving her position to pursue a different opportunity. 

The mayor's office says there will be a job posting on the city's website in two weeks.