White to challenge Wehrli for Naperville mayor, 3 council members seeking reelection

Three of four Naperville City Council members say they are running for reelection in April and Councilman Benny White has announced he wants to unseat Scott Wehrli as mayor.

Two-term incumbent Patrick Kelly is not seeking another term, but fellow council members Josh McBroom, Supna Jain and Nate Wilson have confirmed plans to run again.

Petitions to run for mayor or one of four city council seats were available as of Tuesday, and must be filed Oct. 19-26 for a candidate’s name to appear on the April 6, 2027, ballot.

Council members

Kelly, who is finishing his eighth year on the council, said that while he has enjoyed his time in office, life has gotten busier because of his growing law firm and all the activities in which his three children are involved. Now seems like a good time to take a break, he said.

“I think there’s also a natural cycle to being an elected official and I think eight years was a really good run for me to learn a lot and be really involved,” Kelly said Monday. “I think there’s something to be said for having new people and new ideas and making sure that there’s always fresh thoughts on the council.”

His biggest priorities before leaving office will be helping to pass a balanced budget and solidifying improvements to Naperville’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Monday evening, McBroom took to social media to announce his reelection plans in a short video. First elected in 2023, the financial advisor said he is seeking another term, in part, because he wants to ensure Naperville continues to be a desirable place to live.

“I think it’s our duty to protect what has been given to us by previous generations and pass it along to the next generation. That’s why I’m running,” McBroom said, adding that local government is “one of the last places where independent thought is allowed.”

“I’m not an order taker and you know I believe it’s my job to be an independent thinker, ask hard questions and make decisions that I think are in the best interest of Naperville,” he said.

Prior to being elected to the council, McBroom was a member of the Naperville Park Board. He moved to Naperville in 2001 and has previously served as president of the board for local nonprofit KidsMatter and as a board member for conservative advocacy group Awake Illinois.

Jain, who was tapped to finish Councilwoman Allison Longenbaugh’s term after her resignation last year, confirmed that she plans to seek a full council term.

“When I joined the city council last September, I wanted to take the time to learn the role, listen to residents and understand where I could make the biggest difference,” she said. “Over the past 10 months, one of the things I’m most proud of is how much I’ve listened and learned. Those conversations have shown me there is more work to do, and I’d love the opportunity to continue serving our community.”

Prior to joining the council, Jain spent four years on the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board, where she served as vice president. A principal lecturer in communication and media studies at North Central College, she has lived in Naperville since 2010 and is the first woman of color to serve on the council.

Wilson similarly confirmed his plans to run for reelection in an interview Tuesday.

First elected in 2023, Wilson said there are a number of issues he wants to continue to work on, including securing Naperville’s electricity future, seeing the completion of the Block 59 dining and entertainment complex and finding ways to continue to improve the city’s downtown.

Wilson has been a Naperville resident since 2012 and used to serve on the city’s Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission. He works for a financial technology firm and has been a volunteer for the Naperville Jaycees, the Naperville Swim Conference and Naperville Responds for Veterans.

Mayor

Tuesday afternoon, a rematch for a mayoral bid emerged between White and Wehrli.

“I’m excited to begin this journey with you as we talk about the future of our city: public safety, responsible budgeting, economic opportunity, thoughtful growth and preserving the exceptional quality of life that makes Naperville such a special place to call home,” White said in his campaign announcement.

In 2023, the councilman lost a Naperville mayoral bid to Wehrli. Speaking Tuesday, he said he recognizes how diverse Naperville has become over the last 20 years and wants to make sure people from all backgrounds feel like they have a voice in city government. He cited affordability and public safety as the top election issues for him.

When asked how he felt about his chances to win the mayoral seat, White acknowledged it will be a “tough road” but feels confident.

A retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Senior Army instructor at Joliet Township High School, White has lived in Naperville since 2005. Prior to serving on council, he was a member of the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board and served on various local boards and committees.

When elected in 2017, he was first person of color to be a city council member. He has since been reelected in 2021 and 2025.

“‘We the People’ is more than a phrase. It’s my philosophy of leadership,” White said in his announcement. “It means that local government belongs to the people it serves. It means listening before leading, treating every resident with respect, and making decisions based on what’s best for our community, not politics or special interests.”

For incumbent Wehrli, economic development, public safety and city fiscal responsibility are among the top priorities going into his second mayoral campaign.

“I think we’ve made a lot of great progress towards the things I promised the first time I ran, but that’s just the beginning,” Wehrli said Monday. “We’re still trying to execute that plan of focusing on public safety and economic development. … I think now more than ever affordability is certainly on people’s minds so we’re going to continue what we started.”

Revitalizing the Interstate 88 corridor will continue to be a top priority for him, he said. The more businesses the city can attract to that area, the more the city’s tax base will grow and residential property taxes can be lowered, he said.

“I’ve always been committed to what’s best for Naperville, and that’s what really drives me. I’ve never been a person with political aspirations as much as I’ve been a person who’s believed in giving back to the community as long as I’ve been here,” he said.

Wehrli was adopted into a family that has Naperville roots going back to 1846. He is the principal owner and chairman of Naperville-based company DuKane Precast and helped start a group of community banks focused on local lending. That bank chain has since merged and is ranked in the top 3% nationally, his campaign news release said. He remains a director on its board.

Wehrli is also a trustee on the North Central College and Marmion Academy boards. He spent 29 years on the Naperville Liquor Commission before becoming its chair when elected mayor. He had a 35-year career as a part-time Naperville Park District police officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant before retiring in 2025.