Tuesday’s consolidated election will put an unprecedented eight City Council positions before Naperville voters, with 19 candidates hoping to win them.
The extraordinary volume of available seats is the result of a referendum vote in November 2010 to shift council representation from the present eight at-large positions to five geographically based electoral districts with three at-large councilmen, which was reversed in April 2013. By that time, however, the terms of all current council members had been set to end this month.
Those seeking the positions include four incumbents: Judy Brodhead, Paul Hinterlong, Joe McElroy and Dave Wentz. Challenging the four are Becky Anderson, Rebecca Boyd-Obarski, Kevin Coyne, John Colletti, Bill Eagan, Wayne Floegel, Dick Furstenau, Kevin Gallaher, Patty Gustin, Bob Hajek, John Krummen, Nancy Marinello, H. Tom O’Hale, Steve Peterson and Steve Purduski.
Although his name remains on the ballot, a 20th candidate, Jimmy Bergeron, learned he cannot legally hold a council position after filing his candidacy late in 2014. Local code prohibits those with an economic interest in liquor sales from serving on the council. The holder of two downtown Naperville liquor licenses, Bergeron tried to have the city ordinance changed to permit him to continue his campaign, but the council last month declined to vote on the matter. The members this week will consider wording that clarifies the existing restrictions, but they are expected to remain in place.
Also appearing on Tuesday’s ballot will be four names of those running for the seat being vacated by Mayor A. George Pradel, who is not running for re-election after serving in the position since 1995. The mayoral candidates include Jim Haselhorst, Marty Walker, Steve Chirico and Doug Krause.
Also on ballot are four candidates for three open seats on the Naperville Park Board, Richard A. Janor, Marie L. Todd, Melvin Kim and James B. Ensign. Janor and Todd are incumbents. Ron Ory whose seat is up for election is not running.
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School board positions are also up for election.
In Naperville School District 203 incumbents Mike Jaensch, Terry Fielden and Suzyn Price are running unopposed.
Indian Prairie School District 204 voters will see four names on the ballot for three seats with incumbents Mark Rising, Lori Price and Justin Karubas running along with newcomer Renata Silva.
The College of DuPage board race has a dozen candidates running for three open seats including incumbents Nancy Svoboda and Kim Savage. Others running are Sandra Pihos, Matt Gambs, Claire Ball, Charles Bernstein, Frank Napolitano, Deanne Marie Mazzochi, Roger Kempa, Joseph M. Wozniak, David Carlin and Dan Bailey.