‘Representation matters’: Jain appointed to Naperville City Council
Supna Jain has taken her seat on the Naperville City Council with a groundbreaking swearing-in.
Jain, most recently the vice president of the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board, fills a vacant council spot.
“With this appointment, I become the first woman of color to serve on the Naperville City Council. While this was not the reason I sought this position or this role, it is not lost on me that representation matters,” Jain said. “We should all be proud that our city's leadership is beginning to look more like the community it serves.”
Jain replaces Allison Longenbaugh, who stepped down after more than two years in the role. At her last council meeting, Longenbaugh said she is taking a private sector position that does not allow her to serve in public office. Longenbaugh asked her to consider the role, Jain said.
A second-generation Indian American, wife and mom of two teenage boys, Jain holds a law degree from DePaul University. Her immigrant parents made Illinois their home in Bloomington-Normal and instilled in her “very deeply the importance of community and service,” Jain said.
“At my core, I believe leadership is about listening, learning and helping others thrive,” she said. “That's been the work I've done as an educator, as a school board member, and that's what I hope to bring here as well.”
Jain was first elected to the District 204 board in 2021 and won reelection this past April. She is the principal lecturer in communication and media studies at North Central College in Naperville.
“She's first class, and I think you're going to do a wonderful job,” said Councilman Benny White, a former District 204 board member.
“As she steps into this new role, I know that our community will be well served by her thoughtful leadership, her dedication and her integrity,” Councilwoman Mary Gibson said.
The council voted unanimously to appoint Jain to the seat. She will complete the rest of the term, which runs through April 2027.