Brummel cruises to victory in Warrenville

David Brummel won a third term as Warrenville’s mayor.

And he did it with ease on Tuesday, almost doubling the vote total over challenger Michael Hoffmann.

With all 16 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Brummel with 1,194 votes and Hoffmann with 666 votes.

“I’m feeling good,” said Brummel, who has served as mayor since 2005. “I get another four years to try to accomplish stuff.”

Brummel said the plan for his next term includes keeping the city financially sound. “We also have some significant redevelopment opportunities that I’m really excited about,” he added.

City officials, for example, are considering whether to establish a special taxing district to help rejuvenate the Civic Center near Butterfield and Batavia roads and the Old Town section near the confluence of Warrenville, Batavia and River roads.

In the so-called Tax Increment Financing district, property tax payments to local governments would be frozen for up to 23 years. Any extra property tax money collected within the area after the date the district is established goes into a special fund controlled by the city. That money can be used to help pay for such improvements as roads and other infrastructure.

If approved, the TIF district will be a useful tool to make redevelopment of the Civic Center and the Old Town a reality, Brummel said.

“I am more excited this time around than I was the first time around,” Brummel said.

During the campaign, Hoffmann focused on the issue of flooding. He said Warrenville’s flooding problems are partially caused by Fawell Dam, which DuPage County operates along the DuPage River’s west branch, in the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Naperville.

But Brummel said city officials have thoroughly studied that claim and are working with the county on a list of projects to alleviate flooding. Fawell Dam doesn’t need to be removed, he added.