Former Elgin city councilman Powers dies

Former Elgin City Councilman Mike Powers died on Monday, a city spokeswoman said.

The city confirmed Powers' death after Elgin police responded to a call regarding the former councilman late Monday afternoon.

A city spokeswoman could not confirm a cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

Powers, who was just 52, was elected to the council in April 2007. He served until August 2008, when he resigned over a conflict of interest stemming from his involvement with the Chicago Bandits softball team.

The city released the following statement: "Elgin has lost a passionate member of the community. Former councilman Mike Powers was an energetic leader who was larger than life. His creative ideas helped Elgin leaders realize new possibilities within the city he loved. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family tonight."

City officials and former colleagues were shocked to hear the news.

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock said he had met with Powers just days earlier.

"He's been really struggling," Schock said.

Councilman Rich Dunne, who was elected after Powers resigned, said, "I'm sorry to hear that and sorry to lose a former fellow member of the council."

Powers was a longtime Elgin resident and 1975 graduate of Elgin High School, where he played basketball for legendary coach Bill Chesbrough.

He later wrote a book about Elgin and his memories of growing up in the city called "All-American Stories: Elgin Myths and Memories."

Powers resigned from the council after admitting he accepted $3,000 from the Bandits for marketing work, then later voted to approve more than $700,000 in renovations for the Bandits' stadium at Judson University.

Powers said the vote was an "honest mistake" but a violation of the city's ethics ordinance nevertheless.

Funeral arrangements are pending.