Images: Naperville Mayor through the years

Naperville Mayor George Pradel at a new public works bldg. in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor George Pradel is running for his third term. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville opens its $22 million dollar public works center Wednesday. Mayor George Pradel cuts the ribbon during the ceremony. PAUL MICHNA /pmichna@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel speaks at the new pedestrian bridge dedication Thursday. The bridge offers safe passage over Route 59 in south Naperville. Paul Michna /Pmichna@dailyherald.com

Illinois House Minority leader Tom Cross speaks as Naperville hosts a rally along Route 59 to encourage state legislature to include money for expansion of the road. On the left are State Senator Kirk Dillard and Naperville Mayor George Pradel. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor Pradel presides over a rally along Route 59 to encourage state legislature to include money for expansion of the road. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel leads a group of people celebrates the start work on improvements to the intersection of 75th and Washington, Wednesday, in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Mayor George Pradel counts down to noon during the Bubble Bash 2008 at the Dupage Children's Museum in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor (L) George Pradel test out the new equipment with the help of Personal trainer (R) Mike Malczewski and (M) hospital CEO Pam Davisas Edward Hospital in Naperville opens its new 3200 sq ft. addition to its fitness center. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor (L) George Pradel test out the new equipment with the help of Personal trainer (R) Mike Malczewskias Edward Hospital in Naperville opens its new 3200 sq ft. addition to its fitness center. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, center take part of Naperville reads campaign with Neuqua Valley wresting team members from left, Mike Zozulia, Adam Stine, Alex Zozulia, Dan Burk and PJ Serio, Thursday, in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, in action with Neuqua Valley wresting team members Mike Zozulia, during Naperville Library and Anderson's Bookshop launch their eighth annual Naperville Reads campaign, Thursday, in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Aurora mayor Tom Weisner, left, chats with Naperville Mayor George Pradel, right, during Illinois Tollway, DuPage County and city of Aurora officials breaking ground on the new Eola Road Interchange on the Reagan Memorial Tollway Wednesday, in Aurora. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville's Mayor George Pradel serves up his mouthwatering Steak Albert to Kane County Board member Bonnie Kunkel with a big smile at the 50 Men Who Can Cook fundraiser Saturday night in Batavia. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Naperville's Mayor George Pradel, right, unveils Mr. and Mrs. Naperville sculpture Sunday in honor of Harold and Margaret Moser as Moser nephew Matt Moser, left and Moser Neice Kate (Moser) Ontko, center look on, during dedication at The Naperville Millennium Carillon along the Riverwalk in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville City Manager Doug Krieger, left, and Mayor George Pradel, right, are "Charting the Course " for the upcoming Naperville state of the city address. DANIEL WHITE/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel pets the statue" Green Eggs and Ham" Friday at Naperville's 95th Street Library. This was a gift from the Century Walk. Over 50 people came to see the new statue. PAUL MICHNA /pmichna@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel loads up his cart as he and Assistant Fire Chief Rich Mikel go on a 21/1 minute Frozen Food Shopping Spree at Jewel Foods to benefit Loaves and Fishes food pantry and DuPage PADS. It kicks off "March is National Frozen Food Month". On the left helping with the cart is Captain Nancy Quigley of NEMA. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel waves to paradegoers during the West suburban Irish St. Patricks Day Parade in Naperville Saturday. PAUL MICHNA /pmichna@dailyherald.com

Naperville's Mayor George Pradel holds a sign thanking out troops at the duck race in Aurora Thursday. The race was held to raise money for Leukemia research. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Under reds lights Naperville Mayor Geprge Pradel screams "Happy New Year" during the Bubble Bash at the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville Thursday. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Naperville Mayor George Pradel takes a look at the marker on the tree dedicated to Max Lacewell Wednesday at Leverenz park in Naperville.Max died of a rare cancer. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Naperville Mayor George Pradel takes a long look at the Dick Tracy sculpture along Naperville's River Walk Sunday. The sculpture honors Naperville artist Dick Locher, who drew the Tracy comic strip for many years. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Candace Parker reacts after cutting the ribbon at Spring-Field Park in Naperville which was renamed Candace Parker Court. It's where she started playing when she was younger. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel looks blown away after watching Darlene Senger and Joshua Torres do the Tango. This took place during the Dancing with Celebrities at Meson Sabika in Naperville Wednesday. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Naperville's Century Walk Corp dedicates its latest piece of public art-a mural at the Naperville Art League Tuesday. Naperville Mayor George Pradel closes the dedication with a few words on art. PAUL MICHNA /pmichna@dailyherald.com

Mill Street Elementary principal Mark DeMoulin, left, cut the ribbon Monday as Naperville Mayor George Pradel, center, look on during Dedication ceremony at the school in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Mayor George Pradel shows Evan Lysacek a sign that will be up at the school as Lysacek returns to Neuqua Valley High School as part of Evan Lysacek Day in Naperville on Friday. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel shows the contents of a time capsule from 1939 found recently in Central Park. It mostly contained papers, a coin, a key, newspapers and a couple of items dating from 1946. Behind he mayor is Chris Birck, board president of the Naperville Heritage Society. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel lays out some newspapers from 1939 that were found in a time capsule recently discovered in Central Park. To the right of the mayor is DuPage County Board President Bob Schillerstrom and on the far right is Bryan Ogg, historian at Naper Settlement. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Mayor George Pradel and his 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid. PAUL MICHNA/PMICHNA@DAILYHERALD.COM

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, right, makes Friday a lot tastier for third graders in Sue Petras' class at Scott Elementary School by delivering pizza and drinks for lunch. Parents of two of the third graders, Andy Casey and Riley Olsen, were the high bidders at a recent silent auction sponsored by the school's PTO. The auction raised an estimated total in excess of $15,000 for the PTO's programs. SCOTT SANDERS/ssanders@dailyherald.com

Molly Schaus, formerly from Naperville, and member of the U.S. Women's Silver Medal Hockey Team in the Vancouver Olympics, listens as Naperville Mayor George Pradel, gives her a key to the city. She returned to her grade school for a visit Monday. Hundreds of cheering Spring Brook Elementary School students gave her a raucous welcome at a school assembly. SCOTT SANDERS/ssanders@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel loads his cart with frozen food items in Jewel as he goes on a shopping spree to benefit Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry. "it will help so many people", the mayor said. "I picked out some good things for kids" he added. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Cyndy Lumen, left, with Jewel, looks on Naperville Mayor George Pradel reacts to getting $894.87 worth of frozen items on his shopping spree to benefit Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry. "it will help so many people", the mayor said. "I picked out some good things for kids" he added. BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel is awarded the first star in its Wall of Fame by owner of Kidz Kabaret Kandiss Hernandez. "This is awesome", said the mayor. "It makes me feel good that kids know I'm happy for their development of life through the arts at Kidz Kabaret" BEV HORNE/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, left, talks with Gov. Pat Quinn in front of a MRAP (mine resistant ambush protector), which Navistar produces. DANIEL WHITE/dwhite@dailyherald.com

On his first day back on the job after suffering a mild heart attack, Naperville Mayor George Pradel, right, chats with City Manager Douglas Krieger, left, Monday at city hall. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Mayor George Pradel counts down the clock to the new year at the DuPage Children's Museums new years eve countdown for kids Friday. PAUL MICHNA/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Bev Eigenberg reacts to good numbers coming in for Mayor George Pradel in his re-election for mayor in Naperville Tuesday night. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com

The crowd cheers for Mayor George Pradel during his re-election in Naperville Tuesday night. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel and his friend Betty Wehrli pose while Hollywood legend Raquel Welch signs the Mayor's copy of her new book "Beyond the Cleavage" Saturday at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Kaley Letcher shows her first place win in the child's division for her doggy cupcakes, during Naperville's eighth annual chocolate festival, held at Neuqua Valley High School. At left is Naperville Mayor George Pradel. DANIEL WHITE/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Mayor George Pradel leads in Happy Birthday song, during a 24-year-old celebration at the DuPage Children's Museum in downtown Naperville. daniel white/Dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, left, plays with his relative baby Manuel Daniel Pena, right, at Edward Hospital in Naperville. Daily Herald file photo

Incumbent Mayor A. George Pradel, right, is sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge John Darrah during an inauguration ceremony at the Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center Sunday. Also sworn in were newcomers Steve Chirico and Joseph J. McElroy, along with re-elected incumbent Councilman Grant Wehrli. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

Incumbent Mayor A. George Pradel points to the TV cameras as he talks to his wife who could not attend his inauguration ceremony at the Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center Sunday. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com

Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino, left, congratulates Naperville Mayor George Pradel, on both of their re-elections. They talk about city business in front of the DuPage County Government Complex. Daniel White dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel unveils his own Bobblehead during the 30th Anniversary Celebration Breakfast at Thayer J. Hill Middle School in Naperville. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel and Mickey Mouse pose with Rionnah O'Connor, 3, of Naperville at the 95th Street Library in Naperville on Thursday. Mickey Mouse made a surprise appearance for the kids. Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey is currently at the United Center through Sunday. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel, cente,) cuts the ribbon to the cheers of Chamber of Commerce President John Schmitt, left, and staff members of Chicagoland Medi-Weightloss Clinics. The second Chicagoland Medi-Weightloss Clinics held an Open House at their newest location in Naperville recently. Daily Herald file photo

Mayor Pradel delivers his 17th state of the City address in Naperville on Monday. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor and Marine Corps veteran, George Pradel, arrives at Naperville's Veterans Day ceremony Friday at Veterans Park in his 1941 WW II jeep. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel spends 2-1/2 minutes collecting frozen food, at Jewel Osco in Naperville, to be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. As part of frozen foods month Pradel gathered $774.71, setting a new record for himself. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Mayor George Pradel presides over at hearing of Naperville's Electroral Board on the City of Naperville Referendum Objection for the proposed smart meters, to monitor electrical use in the village, Tuesday. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel throws out a first pitch, as the Naperville Park District celebrates the grand reopening of its recently renovated Knoch Park, and the opening of Naperville Little League's 60th season. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor George Pradel relaxes after spending 2-1/2 minutes collecting frozen food, at Jewel Osco in Naperville, to be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. As part of frozen foods month Pradel gathered $774.71, setting a new record for himself. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

Naperville Mayor, George Pradel, acts as a judges barbecue ribs during the Ribest competition on Sunday, July 1. Daily Herald file photo