A public ceremony Sunday will mark a changing of the guard in Naperville. The rite will bring in six newly elected City Council members and two returning incumbents, and place a new mayor in the top elected official’s seat for the first time in two decades.
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Before that happens, though, space must be made for the incoming people. That’s how Mayor A. George Pradel spent part of his Friday, working with a small crew of city employees to clear out five elected terms’ worth of letters, photographs, plaques and countless other mementos from his second-floor office suite in the Municipal Center.
“It’s mixed emotions, because after 20 years, you kind of get attached to the office,” said Pradel, 77, taking a break to sit down with a visitor.
The amiable mayor, famous for turning up at seemingly every community event, noted that he didn’t spend that much time in the office where so much community memorabilia had accumulated.
“It was just a great feeling of being a part of this wonderful city,” he said.
With only a couple of official appearances left to cover, Pradel was optimistic about his successor, current Councilman Steve Chirico, and the eight men and women who will comprise the new City Council. Along with current council members Judy Brodhead and Paul Hinterlong, those taking the oath of office will include Becky Anderson, Rebecca Boyd-Obarski, Kevin Coyne, Kevin Gallaher, Patty Gustin and John Krummen.
Pradel said he attended an orientation session Thursday evening in which the officials-elect were briefed on some of the details of the job.
“I had tears in my eyes, because they talked about all the things they’re going to do,” he said.
The outgoing mayor said he is pleased to see that Chirico already has begun putting together an advisory group who will support him in the new position. He also said he is glad to know the new council’s gender breakdown will be more reflective of the city’s population, which is slightly more than half female.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to gel together and become one of the primary forces in DuPage County and the state,” he said.
In addition to the swearing-in itself, Sunday’s event, which is open to the public, will include a benediction, comments from officials and the singing of the national anthem by a local school student. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in the council chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
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