Alderman second to seek Batavia mayoral post

Batavia 2nd Ward Alderman Alan Wolff is running for mayor.

"I've thought about it for quite a few years," Wolff said in an interview Saturday. He is in the middle of his second term as alderman.

"I'm not ready to let somebody else take over if Jeff Schielke is leaving."

Schielke has been mayor for nearly 28 years, running unopposed three times. He has said he will announce after the holiday break whether he will run again.

Britta McKenna, director of the Batavia MainStreet downtown development program and former parks commissioner, is also running for mayor.

Wolff said deciding where to put a second Fox River bridge in downtown Batavia and diversification of the city's housing stock are two key issues for him.

Without knowing where a second bridge will go, people may be reluctant to invest in downtown development, he said. And downtown projects should feature multiuse buildings, he said, not single-story shopping centers. Batavia's downtown is anchored by three strip malls. He said he would like to see more housing downtown, particularly something that recent college graduates could afford.

"There has to be real diversity in the housing stock in this city," he said.

Wolff is vice chairman of the council's community development committee, and represents the city on the Batavia Access Television board. He is married and has three children. He has lived in Batavia for 36 years.

Wolff's campaign Web site is wolff09.com.

Election petitions must be filed Jan. 19-23.