1st District – Canneth Lee

1st District Council Member

Councilman Pastor Canneth Lee proudly serves as the 1st District Councilman, President of the Common Council, and the Senior Pastor of Kingdom Christian Center. A South Bend native, Canneth has deep roots in the community. He is married to Charisse Wardlow Lee, and together, they are the parents of three sons: Brian Gilliam, Caylyn Harris, and Chase Harris. Guided by his favorite quote, “People may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel,” Canneth is committed to making a positive impact on those around him. Canneth Lee is proud to be the first African American to serve as the 1st District Common Councilman.

A South Bend native, Canneth Lee has a drive and commitment for seeing South Bend become a great city. A lifelong resident of the first district, Councilman Pastor Canneth Lee attended Marquette elementary and Dickson middle schools and graduated in 1994 from LaSalle High School. He attended Ball State University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunication Sales and Marketing in December of 1998.

In 2001, Pastor Lee returned to South Bend to establish Kingdom Christian Center. For the past 19 years, he has worked relentlessly to bring positive change to South Bend by being a grassroots organizer, fostering community growth and support.

Councilman Pastor Canneth Lee has received several prestigious awards for his outstanding contributions, including the President Obama Award from the City of South Bend, the Community Wellness “Outstanding Initiative” Award, and the Red Ribbon Award, all in 2019. The following year, he received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the 1st District’s Bringing Our Community Together Committee. Additionally, in 2020, Councilman Lee was awarded the Screen Scene Award for Outstanding Community Service, and in 2025, he received the Roland Kelly Award.

Canneth Lee has a heart for South Bend and its residents and a drive to see people be their best selves. He has always worked to unite and not divide, honing the ability to work with many diverse people.

Representing

Representing all of the residents in: 130101, 130102, 130103, 130104, 130105, 130106, 130107, 130108, 130109, 130110, 130111, 130112, 130113, 130114, 130115