Naperville councilwoman will step down

The Naperville City Council will have a fifth opening on the April 2009 ballot.

Councilwoman Darlene Senger said Tuesday she plans to formally notify the city of her resignation before Friday, Nov. 28 so her seat will be up for election in the spring.

Earlier this month, Senger defeated Democrat Dianne McGuire for the 96th District House seat vacated by the retiring Joe Dunn.

The council will have to appoint a replacement for Senger within 60 days of her vacating her seat. If she does not announce this vacancy before Nov. 28, the appointee would serve the remaining two years of her term. But councilmen have said they believe voters should choose who serves those two years. Once the city receives the letter of resignation, it can make candidate petitions available. Those nominating petitions are due between Dec. 8 and 15.

Senger said she will be working today with City Attorney Margo Ely to draft the letter of resignation.

There are already four open seats on the council: those of Miller and Doug Krause, who both plan to run again, and James Boyajian and John Rosanova, who won't seek additional terms.

Any potential candidates who have been collecting signatures intending to run for one of the four 4-year terms would have to collect new signatures in order to run for the 2-year term.

Currently 26 people have picked up nominating positions for the 4-year terms.

If 17 or more turn them in next month, there will be a primary Feb. 24 to reduce the number to 16. If five or more people submit petitions for Senger's seat, there will be a primary to narrow that field to four.