Wheaton set to appoint new city manager

Wheaton plans to introduce a new city manager at its next city council meeting on Monday, July 6.

The city will formally welcome Raymond Munch to the position, selected by the city council after an extensive search by the MGT executive recruitment firm.

Pending appointment by the city council, Munch will start as Wheaton’s city manager on July 27. In Wheaton, the city manager oversees the daily operations of all city departments. Munch will receive a base salary of $260,000.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” said Munch, who lives in Naperville.

“I was drawn to it because Wheaton just has a great reputation,” he added. “I’ve worked or lived around Wheaton for a long time.”

Munch described Wheaton as a “very livable community.”

“It has a tremendous downtown,” he said. “It provides all the things people are looking for when they think about a great community to live in.”

Munch has served as finance director for Naperville since May 2024. He’s been with the city of Naperville for six years, also serving as deputy finance director and budget manager.

He previously worked in several capacities within the DeKalb government, including interim city manager and assistant city manager.

Munch has also held positions in both Carol Stream and Glen Ellyn, the latter as a police officer for nearly 12 years.

In 2018, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University. Munch previously attended Western Illinois University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and justice administration.

“Ray brings to the City of Wheaton a unique and diverse career in public service, combining experience in finance, city management, and law enforcement,” Wheaton Mayor Phil Suess stated in a release.

He will succeed Michael Dzugan as Wheaton’s city manager.

Dzugan, who had announced his impending retirement in September 2024, was appointed city manager in 2016. He had previously served for 25 years as Wheaton’s assistant city manager.

Among Dzugan’s accomplishments was shepherding the city’s 2017-23 Downtown Streetscape Project, a $35 million revitalization of Wheaton’s downtown.

“The important thing,” Munch said, “is there’s a very solid city government in place there, so I hope to keep that going.”