Pradel eager to mentor mayoral hopefuls

George Pradel hasn’t even been sworn in to his record fifth and final term as Naperville’s mayor but he’s already encouraging his potential successors to think about 2015.

The pending change from an at-large council system to districts in 2015 has some council members focused on potential two-year terms in 2013 before jumping into the mayoral race two years later, but Pradel said it’s never too early to pick the brain of the guy who’s had the job for the past 16 years.

“I’m telling you right now that I’m throwing open the barn doors right from the get -go for anybody who wants to start looking at the next four years and beyond,” Pradel said. “I’m ready to help any of the eight seated councilmen who think they may want to be the next mayor. I’ll be here to tell them all the good parts, bad parts and everything in between.”

So far, Pradel said he hasn’t been approached by anyone, but hopes it’s just a matter of time.

“I think some of them may not believe me when I say this is it, but I mean it,” he said. “And this next four years is going to pass quickly.”

Councilman Kenn Miller, who finished third in his mayoral bid earlier this month to Pradel and Councilman Doug Krause, is noncommital about a second run at the throne.

But Miller said he’ll take Pradel up on his offer anyway.

“I’ve got two years left on my council term before I’ll need to decide if I’m running in 2013 for a two-year term so I need some time before making decisions for 2015,” Miller said. “That being said, I greatly enjoyed the mayoral race and think I still have something to offer the city in that capacity. So yes, I will be taking Mayor Pradel up on his offer and I’ll continue working closely with him and my fellow councilmen.”

Krause, who finished slightly better than Miller in what was his fourth mayoral contest, said he also needs to decide whether he’ll seek a two-year term in 2013 before committing to 2015. As the senior councilman, Krause has served as mayor pro-tem six times in Pradel’s absence and said those opportunities gave him insight into the job.

“It’s no secret to anyone that I’ve always had my eye on being mayor of Naperville and I can do it cheaply since I’ve still got all my signs,” Krause said. “But I could be pushing up daisies in 2015. And if I’m not I’ll need to decide if I want to give up being a councilman, which I love, and gamble everything on 2015.”

Neither Pradel nor his successor, Sam McCrane, ever served a day as councilmen but Pradel said his wish is that one of the city’s eight seated councilmen would be his successor. So far, however, Miller and Krause appear to be the most likely options as several other councilmen have said they have no desire to be mayor.

“I don’t have those aspirations because Pradel made the job a full-time position and raised the bar on expectations for the position,” said Paul Hinterlong. “He’s made it so that everyone will expect the next mayor to be as accessible as he is and I respect that. But I know it would be too much to juggle with a full-time job and family.”

Bob Fieseler, just elected to his second term, said he also is happy being a councilman and has no desire to be mayor.

“I don’t want to be mayor. I know my personality and I work better in a small group setting working things out as a councilman,” Fieseler said. “When you’re the mayor, you’re front and center and that’s not me. I want people to like me.”

Judy Brodhead also said she will not be a mayoral candidate in the near future.

“No, I will not be running for mayor, but I will be running for council in 2013 when my term is up and in 2015 when everyone’s term is up,” she said. “(The year) 2015 will be interesting because that year no one will be able to retain a council seat while running for mayor, making running for mayor much more of a gamble.”

Neither newly elected councilmen Steve Chirico nor Joe McElroy intend to be mayoral candidates either but both say they intend to pick Pradel’s brain for the future.

“It’s way too early for me to be able to answer that because I have to learn whether I even like being on city council. I think it’s going to be a good experience but if turns out otherwise, that would be the end of that,” McElroy said. “But it’s great that the mayor is thinking ahead like that. I definitely hope to learn about city government and his office from him during the next four years.”

Chirico also thought 2015 may be too soon to make a run but didn’t rule it out for future campaigns.

“I think it’s great the mayor has opened it up but there are several councilmen more qualified for the job,” Chirico said. “(Councilman) Grant Wehrli comes to mind in 2015 but I don’t see the stars lining up for me at that time.”

Wehrli could not be reached for comment.