New candidate enters race for Wheaton mayor

City Councilman John Prendiville officially threw his name into the race for Wheaton mayor Thursday.

Prendiville, an attorney, will challenge incumbent Mike Gresk in the April 2011 election. Gresk filed his nominating petitions Monday.

Prendiville, whose first term on the council ends in April, said he hopes to bring stronger leadership to the mayor's office as the city faces several emotional issues, such as the future of funding for the history center and a new coyote management policy.

“It's important, especially for a mayor, to take a position first so people can respond to that,” Prendiville said. “There is too much emphasis on the question of how things will play in the next election. We need to have an emphasis on government rather than politics.”

Prendiville, 48, is a managing director and managing counsel for The Bank of New York Mellon. Married with four children, he first was elected to the council in 2007.

In entering the race for mayor, Prendiville gives up the chance to seek re-election this spring to his at-large alderman seat.

Three people have expressed interest in the two at-large seats up for election in April. Newcomers Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti and Jeanne Ives entered the race Monday and former business owner Scott MacKay entered on Wednesday.

Incumbent Liz Corry has not indicated if she will seek re-election.

Gresk said the only thing that surprised him about Prendiville filing is that it didn't happen sooner. Gresk secured the top spot on the spring ballot by filing his paperwork on Monday morning.

Gresk said he plans to campaign on the fact he's been very active in the community for the past 20 years and has been accessible as mayor. “I talk to everybody and return phone calls,” he said.

When it comes to his leadership skills, Gresk said he has demonstrated an ability to get members of the council to work together.

“The mayor's job is to build consensus and to make sure there are enough people moving in the right direction to make this city better,” he said.

Despite what he calls differences in styles of leadership, Prendiville said he looks forward to the campaign.

“I expect it to be a fairly gentlemanly debate between me and Gresk,” he said. “I'm not a politician. Mike leans toward the politician side and that's the major difference.”

&bul; Daily Herald staff writer Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.