an out-of-state company. Kernan characterized it as "terribly bad judgement". Kernan pledged to pursue upgrades to U.S. Route 31 calling it, "one of my top priorities since I first took office as lieutenant governor in 1997, and...still among them today." He declared that there had progress in the pursuit of improvements, and that the plans had been made in a "fiscally responsible manner" Kernan also voiced opposition to the prospect making the thoroughfare a toll road, declaring, "I will not make hoosiers – or the people who are driving through on business or pleasure – pay a toll to travel this roadway." Daniels criticized Kernan's proposals, characterizing them as fiscally irresponsible, claiming, "The gap between the cost and the available funds in the Indiana Department of Transportation's budget is more than $3 billion in the next six years. For a state that is broke by every measure, the governor's promise list is impossible." Post-gubernatorial career Kernan returned to private life in January 2005, and moved back to South Bend in 2006. He served as a volunteer acting director for the St. Joseph County Red Cross. He worked at the University of Notre Dame as an adjunct professor. Kernan served on the Indiana University South Bend Chancellor's Advisory Board, and was a member of the Chancellor's 100 of Indiana University. Partnering with his gubernatorial successor, Kernan worked with the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation. Kernan was the president and owner of the community and business development consulting firm South Bend Enterprises, Inc. South Bend Silver Hawks In 2005, Kernan became president and managing investor of the South Bend Silver Hawks baseball club, after convincing approximately 50 others to invest in the team. This kept the team in South Bend, amid rumors that they were eying a move out of the city. Kernan's tenure with the South Bend Silver Hawks team ended in 2011. Kernan then agreed to sell the team to Andrew Berlin, of Berlin Packaging, so that he could develop the Silver Hawks further and keep the team in the South Bend area. The team has subsequently been the renamed the South Bend Cubs. Political involvement In July 2007, Kernan and Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, a Republican, were appointed by Daniels to co-chair the bipartisan Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform. The commission published its report in December 2007. It recommended making broad changes to the structure of local