Four of nine Wheaton City Council candidates running for West District seat

The most hotly contested race for Wheaton City Council next spring will come in the West District, where four candidates will tangle for the same seat.

The filing period closed Monday for the four available council seats without enough candidates for any one post triggering the need for a primary.

Still, the April 4 election promises to be interesting in the West District, where incumbent Todd Scalzo will face three challengers in his bid for a third term.

Scalzo said he wants to serve another four years to provide continuity on the council.

Bobby McNeily, a nonprofit professional, filed simultaneously with Scalzo on the first day of filing. McNeily has served on the city's community relations commission for two years and said he is running because he hopes to inspire other millennials to run for public office.

A lottery will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday to determine whose name will appear first on the ballot.

Other candidates for the West District seat are Lynn Robbins, a former Illinois Park and Recreation Association board member, and Joseph Leone.

In the East District, incumbent Thor Saline will face Michael Barbier, a project engineer for DuPage County, and Thomas Dymit, a Chicago Symphony Chorus singer and North Central College faculty member.

Councilmen John Rutledge in the South District and Phil Suess in the North District will run unopposed. Rutledge has served on the council since 2011 and Suess is seeking a fourth term.

All nine candidates had their nominating petitions brought to the city clerk last Monday, on the first day of filing.