Joy Behar to Buttigieg: ‘Do your job first’ as mayor before running for president

“The View” co-host Joy Behar on Monday advised Democratic White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg to prioritize his current job as the mayor of South Bend, Ind., over running for president. 

“Fix what’s going on in South Bend,” Behar said on ABC’s “The View.” “It’s a small population. Do your job first there, and then run for president. That’s my feeling.”

BUTTIGIEG CONFRONTED OVER POLICE SHOOTING: Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg faced criticism Sunday at an emotional town hall meeting a week after a white police officer fatally shot a black man in the city where he is mayor — the co-hosts discuss. https://t.co/ZAFydCwYLY pic.twitter.com/B7ohmmkvGh

— The View (@TheView) June 24, 2019

Behar said she loves what Buttigieg stands for, adding that she thinks the 37-year-old is “terrific.”

{mosads}”But I have this feeling that these guys who are running who are mayors and governors should keep doing their jobs. … When you’re the mayor or the governor, it’s almost like being the father or the mother of the family,” she said. “And to leave South Bend now and run for president seems like an unfinished job.”

The comments from Behar come as Buttigieg deals with the fallout of a fatal police shooting of a black man in South Bend. Tensions have escalated since the incident occurred on June 16, when South Bend police responded to a suspicious persons call at a local apartment complex.

Eric Logan, the suspect, reportedly approached an officer with a knife and was shot. The officer Logan allegedly approached was wearing a body camera, but it was not on at the time of the shooting.  

Tensions spilled over Sunday night during a town hall featuring Buttigieg, as many black residents accused South Bend’s law enforcement of systemic failures.

Buttigieg, who has gained national name recognition since launching his campaign, said in a statement Monday that he understands why people are not “satisfied.”

“I’m not either. This is why as mayors we have the opportunity to change the national conversation,” he said. 

Buttigieg said last week that he was open to having an independent prosecutor investigate the shooting, which is is currently being probed by the St. Joseph’s prosecutor’s office

Buttigieg has emerged as a popular candidate within the Democratic caucus. He is slated to appear alongside candidates including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday, the second night of the first Democratic primary debate.