5 seek to fill St. Charles council vacancy

Five people have applied to fill a vacancy on the St. Charles City Council, including a man who lost in his bid for mayor to Don DeWitte.

Wednesday was the deadline to apply to replace David Richards in the 5th Ward. Richards resigned Nov. 14 after accepting a plea deal on a disorderly conduct charge in DuPage County. He had been accused of exposing himself while driving on North Avenue in West Chicago in July.

Whoever is appointed will serve until the first city council meeting in May. In the April 5 municipal election, voters will choose someone to fill the remaining two years of Richards' term.

The candidates are:

Ÿ Attorney Jotham Stein. Stein ran against DeWitte in April 2009. He also was a vocal opponent of the proposed St. Charles Towne Plaza development that Shodeen Inc. wanted to build on the site of the former St. Charles Mall. The council rejected the plan in May. Stein practices law in Illinois and California, and volunteers with St. Charles Boys Baseball and Tri-Cities Soccer Association. He also sought the Democratic nomination for the 14th Congressional seat in 2008.

Ÿ Maureen Lewis. She works as a patient relations coordinator for a medical office, has served on committees of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, and is on the St. Charles 708 Mental Health Board.

Ÿ Kim Malay, a former city employee. She has served on Downtown Partnership committees, is president of the Farnsworth Mansion Foundation and founded the Near Westside Neighborhood Association. She, too, was a critic of the St. Charles Towne Plaza development.

Ÿ Kathleen Panek, a newcomer to town. She has lived in St. Charles for 18 months, owns an information technology consulting business and is a real estate agent. She served on the Burr Ridge Environmental Quality Commission and volunteered with Girl Scouts of America.

Ÿ Steve Pearce, principal of Jane Addams Junior High School in Schaumburg. He is also an education consultant and serves on the board of the St. Charles Storm youth basketball program.

The interim candidate selection committee will meet Dec. 3 in closed session to narrow the list to two. The committee consists of DeWitte, 5th Ward Alderman Ed Bessner, and the chairmen of the three standing city council committees _ 1st Ward Alderman Dan Stellato, 2nd Ward Alderman Cliff Carrignan and 3rd Ward Alderman John McGuirk.

The city council will interview the finalists at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6, DeWitte will submit his recommendation to the council at the regular city council meeting at 7 p.m. and, if the person is approved, he or she could be sworn in that evening.

To comment on the candidates, or for more information, contact DeWitte at (630) 377-4444 or ddewitte@stcharlesil.gov.