St. Charles 3d Ward has second aldermanic candidate

A second member of the Near West Neighborhood Association in St. Charles is in the running to become a new member of the St. Charles City Council.

Vanessa Bell-LaSota joins Kim Malay as members of the association to announce their candidacies. Bell-LaSota seeks the Third Ward seat currently occupied by Alderman John McGuirk. McGuirk is not seeking re-election. Malay seeks the Fifth Ward seat vacated by David Richards, who recently resigned. Bell-LaSota already has an opponent in her race. Former St. Charles Unit District 303 teacher Ray Rogina has also announced his candidacy for the Third Ward seat.

Bell-LaSota, in a written statement, said she began to follow city politics during the public meetings about the proposed redevelopment of the former St. Charles Mall site. That proposal was ultimately voted down by the city council after heavy public criticism from neighbors in the area about overcrowding local schools and snarling traffic congestion.

The Near West Neighborhood Association helped organize that criticism. Bell-LaSota said she plans to continue encouraging city residents to express their opinions to her if she is elected to the city council.

“They need to know that their voice matters,” Bell-LaSota wrote.

Bell-LaSota said she's also met with fire and police officials to get a grasp on local issues and needs in preparing her candidacy.

The 13-year resident of the city is a former teacher in the Kaneland school district and ran a graphic design firm, Bell Graphics, in the Fox Valley. She also teaches local art classes and is a sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Bell-LaSota has also been involved with city government and city events. She worked with the St. Charles Fine Art Show and volunteers with the St. Charles Arts Council, she said.

“As neighbors we all share common concerns,” Bell-LaSota wrote. “We want to preserve and improve the value of our property and ensure safety in our community.”