Daily Herald opinion: White, Holzhauer, Bruzan Taylor and McDaniel for Naperville City Council

Naperville has a long tradition of attracting well-qualified candidates for its city council races, and this year is no different. Eight candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for four seats on the city council in the current election.

Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Ian Holzhauer and Benny White are seeking reelection to their council seats. The challengers are Nag Jaiswal, Naperville Library Board President Ashfaq Syed, Naperville Park District Board President Mary Gibson, and Naperville planning and zoning commissioners Derek McDaniel and Meghna Bansal.

White, a U.S. Army veteran, has been on the city council since 2017 and served previously on the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board. His career has been one of service and leadership, and he seeks to promote collaboration among city council members.

Elected to the council in 2021, Holzhauer, an attorney, spent his first term advocating for housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, calling for the removal of lead service lines in older parts of the city and supporting the expansion of mental health programs in the police and fire departments. He says he takes pride in listening to residents about their concerns.

Bruzan Taylor, a former Cook County prosecutor, has served on the city council since 2021. She says she makes decisions based on researching the issues and speaking with staff and stakeholders — not partisan politics. To keep the property tax rate low, she said the city should support the business community and reasonable development while working to revitalize the I-88 corridor.

All the candidates in the race listed public safety and infrastructure among their top concerns. They also agree the city should not be forced to renew an electricity contract with an agency that has minority ownership stakes in two coal-fired power plants.

White, Holzhauer and Bruzan Taylor have the knowledge and commitment to address those issues. They are endorsed.

Choosing among the challengers is difficult. Jaiswal, Syed, Gibson, McDaniel and Bansal are all impressive individuals. They each have the skills and strengths to become effective council members.

McDaniel makes a compelling case for himself by describing how he has lived in Naperville for more than 40 years and has witnessed firsthand the city's growth and changes. In addition, his background in financial services has given him the expertise to analyze budgets and make fiscally responsible decisions. McDaniel is endorsed.