Naperville council repeals campaign contribution disclosure ordinance, stresses city hall is not for sale

Naperville City Council members this week narrowly repealed a 2020 ordinance regulating campaign finance disclosures.

In a 5-4 vote, the council put an end to the ordinance that required its members disclose campaign contributions of $750 or more if the donor was connected to a matter before the city. The ordinance required such disclosures if the donor was a petitioner or a speaker making comment on an issue before the council.

"What's on the books today simply is not working," said Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli, who cast the tiebreaking vote to repeal the ordinance. "It is riddled with loopholes and workarounds."

Debate over the ordinance began in April, when former Mayor Steve Chirico pushed for its repeal arguing one of its major flaws is that it did not address donations from political action committees (PACs).

Proponents of repealing the ordinance echoed some of the same arguments at Tuesday's meeting.

"I've been following politics in this town for a long time and I saw more PAC money and more union money come into this race than I've ever seen," council member Josh McBroom said.

McBroom was among the five council members voting to repeal the ordinance. Council members Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Paul Leong and Nate Wilson also supported rescinding the ordinance. Council members Ian Holzhauer, Patrick Kelly, Allison Longenbaugh and Benny White voted to keep it.

Taylor noted the ordinance has had the unintended consequence of limiting public comment at meetings. As part of the ordinance, residents wishing to speak must sign up for public comment by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting to give council members time to disclose any conflicts with the speakers.

"(Repeal) will allow for wider participating in our meetings," she said.

Others, however, argued the ordinance promotes transparency and trust in the council.

"It will be unfortunate if we repeal the ordinance," Kelly said. "I think it has worked well ... it's something our public has been happy with."

White added, repealing the ordinance would not diminish PAC campaign contributions.

"We need a process in place that keeps us honest," White said. "What are we hurting if we have it? It seems like we're scared of (the ordinance) but I don't know why we're scared of it."

Wehrli said council members still will have to abide by the city's ethics ordinance and state laws regulating campaign contributions.

"Naperville City Hall isn't for sale," Wehrli said. "It never has been and never will be."