Wheaton City Council seeking new member

A replacement for Wheaton City Councilman Howard Levine will be in place by April 1, Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk said.

Levine resigned at the city council meeting Feb. 22 citing personal reasons.

He represented the South District for nearly six years. The district covers the area south of Elm Street between Naperville and Warrenville roads and south of Farnham east of Naperville Road.

Gresk said at least two people have applied for the post.

South district residents have until March 11 to apply and the city council will then start interviews.

Whoever gets the spot will serve the remainder of Levine’s term, which ends in 2013.

“I’m pleased there is interest,” Gresk said. “We would like to see as many people as possible.”

With a number of hot topics on the agenda in the near future, including the fate of Wheaton Grand Theater funding and a request by the Downtown Wheaton Association for additional money, the choice could be crucial to the debates coming up in the next several months.

Councilman John Prendiville, who will face off against Gresk for mayor in the April 5 election, said he looked forward to interviewing the candidates.

“I would like to see someone truly dedicated to the city and someone who is going to do their homework,” he said. “I don’t mind if it’s someone who does not agree with me as long as they approach (the issues) in a straightforward manner.”

“Some of the people on the council I respect the most are people who disagree with me on some issues,” he said, “but we can talk most things out and have an intelligent debate and, afterward, we can walk away and still be on good social terms.”

Gresk said his will be just one vote on the replacement but he hopes whoever the council chooses seeks re-election in two years.

“A lot of people don’t like to run for public office because people look at you skeptically,” he said. “But whoever we choose, I hope they have the courage and inclination to run again.”