South Bend Venues, Parks and Arts Executive Director Aaron Perri has ruled out a run for mayor.

In a statement, Perri said in part, "As I reinforce my commitment to the Venues Parks & Arts team, I look forward to working alongside a mayoral candidate who will provide continuity in acumen, policy, pace, and most importantly, vision for our city.

Before taking over Venues, Parks and Arts in 2015, Perri was executive director of Downtown South Bend. Perri added he is "most interested in improving and expanding the impact we create through Venues Parks & Arts."

Since Mayor Pete announced that he would not seek a third term, many people have inquired about my career plans. I used this occasion to meet with various business leaders, mentors, community builders, friends, and family members to discuss the future, particularly as it relates to my public service. A few things have become clear to me. First, I am reminded how grateful I am for Mayor Pete’s remarkable service to South Bend. It has been a honor to serve alongside him throughout his entire time in office, and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve accomplished as a team. I wish him the best as he pursues his next steps. Second, I’m humbled by the amount of trust and respect people have for the work I do. The sum of these efforts is the result of a great team and a supportive community. Our future accomplishments will depend greatly on this on-going teamwork and support. It’s a privilege to serve my hometown and it’s something I look forward to continuing to do. The final thing that’s become clear is that I can continue to lead and make a difference without running for elected office. This belief has profoundly influenced my work for the past twenty years, and my conviction is stronger today than ever before. To serve your community and help move it forward, regardless of your title or position in life, is a message I hope will continue to resonate throughout our city. I’m convinced that the unyielding opportunity to do this is a major part of what makes South Bend such a special place. At this point in my career, I’m most interested in improving and expanding the impact we create through Venues Parks & Arts. It’s a historic time to be involved with this work. We’ve set an unprecedented number of projects in motion and we have many exciting things yet to accomplish in the very near future. The work we do is important and this not a time to lose focus. I’m incredibly proud of the 200+ team members and the many partners I work alongside daily. We will continue to significantly influence areas like Economic Impact, Social Equity, the Built & Natural Environment, Public Safety, Health, and Culture. Investing in these areas will help shape the city into the best version of itself and ultimately serve our mission of “Making South Bend More Liveable for All.” This is what makes our work so rewarding and it’s why I’m enthusiastic about continuing to serve in my current role. As I reinforce my commitment to the Venues Parks & Arts team, I look forward to working alongside a mayoral candidate who will provide continuity in acumen, policy, pace, and most importantly, vision for our city. In the meantime… thank you, South Bend, for your ongoing support.