Wheaton mayoral candidates tussle over leadership

Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk fired back at critics Wednesday saying while he may not deserve all the credit for getting the city into good financial shape, he most certainly would be blamed if it wasn’t.

He also took issue with his opponent in the mayoral race, Councilman John Prendiville, who says the first-term mayor lacks the leadership skills necessary for the job.

“My leadership, I would put it up against anyone,” said Gresk, noting he has spent nearly 30 years serving the public in various capacities. “I take great umbrage and exception to any comment to the contrary. If the wheels (financially) came off and we crashed and burned, you would come after me with a stick.”

Gresk made the comments during an early-morning candidates forum sponsored by the Downtown Wheaton Association. Prendiville, who is challenging Gresk in the April 5 election, said his attacks are not personal, but Gresk’s leadership style doesn’t make him a leader.

“I like Mike, I truly do,” Prendiville said. “But I’ve become frustrated. We have done some good things while Mike has been mayor. But we haven’t done them because Mike’s mayor.”

Prendiville said he chooses his stance on issues and then leads by example rather than finding and following a majority. For example, he said, he has been an advocate of allowing the Wheaton Park District to buy the former Hubble Middle School site.

Although Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 has since placed the property on the auction block and welcomed all bidders, Prendiville said the situation illustrates the difference between the candidates.

Other issues he has taken a stance on include the tax increment financing ordinance passed early in his term and the Wheaton Grand Theater.

In contrast, Prendiville said, Gresk voted against placing a nonbinding referendum concerning funding for the theater on the April 5 ballot and then attended a fundraiser for the facility last week. Prendiville said that showed bad leadership.

“This is an example of Mike being on every side of every issue,” he said. “He voted against the referendum then attended the fundraiser.”

Gresk, however, said he voted against the referendum because he felt it was pushing responsibility of the matter away from the board.

“To put that (referendum) on there, to me, is the antithesis of leadership,” he said.

“There are those leadership things you do, but you don’t have to stand on top of city hall and shout them at the top of your voice,” Gresk said. “I gather opinion, and I do look to build consensus. That is leadership.”