Two seek to fill Batavia council vacancy

Two people have applied to become a Batavia 3rd Ward alderman.

For Dan Chanzit, it's a familiar exercise. He applied in February to fill another 3rd Ward vacancy.

Chanzit, of the 500 block of Peebles Court, and Jan Magree, of the 500 block of North Van Nortwick Avenue, will be interviewed by Batavia aldermen at a government services committee meeting at 7 p.m. May 4.

Aldermen will pick the replacement May 17. Legally, the mayor has the right to nominate someone for city council approval, without a public interview, but Mayor Jeff Schielke prefers to have the council weigh in. Schielke has said having the aldermen involved in the choice makes for a better working relationship with the council.

Chanzit is a banking and loan officer with Chase Bank, at its branch on Dunham Road in St. Charles. He is a former newspaper reporter.

He or Magree will replace Cathy Barnard, who quit April 19. She moved to Elburn.

Chanzit or Magree will serve the remainder of Barnard's term, which expires in April 2011. The city has 60 days to fill the vacancy.

In March, Janet Jungels was appointed to replace the late 3rd Ward Alderman Linnea Miller. Miller died of cancer in January. Her husband, William, was the other applicant for the post.