Dozens seek suburban mayor, council posts as next election season opens

WHEATON

Four file for city council (5:53 p.m.)

Five Wheaton City Council candidates, including two incumbents, wasted no time Monday in getting their campaigns underway.

Councilmen Howard Levine and Phil Suess joined non-incumbents Todd Scalzo, Jeanne Ives and Tom Johnson in filing nominating petitions Monday at city hall - kicking off the start of the filing period for candidates seeking four seats on the council.

Suess and Johnson will square off for a seat in the North District, while Levine filed to retain his South District seat. Scalzo and Ives are seeking spots representing the West and East districts, respectively.

"We have several outstanding issues that I'd like to continue to work on, including redevelopment of the Hubble (Middle School) property and working on our budget," said Levine, who represents the city's South District. "We are facing the same problems that every other municipality in DuPage County is, and I think what we need is experienced leadership to address that."

While Levine filed his paperwork first thing in the morning, Suess got his eight pages of signatures submitted late in the afternoon.

"I have interest in the city and the services the city provides," Suess said. "We are very proud to live in this community, and we want to make sure the community is in the position to provide the services and amentites that it has in the past to make Wheaton a great place to live."

Wheaton councilmen whose terms also expire include Dave Johnson, West District, and Tom Mouhelis, East District.

In 2005, Suess earned his elected post by defeating Tom Johnson by 128 votes.

Now Johnson is making a second attempt to win a seat representing the North District. He said there's no single issue that motivates him.

"We have to revitalize downtown," Johnson said. "We have to work with the Union Pacific about train traffic. We've got to get Manchester bridge (rebuilt). There's a whole lot of stuff."

Scalzo also is making a second attempt at winning a council seat. In 2007, he faced four opponents competing for two at-large seats. He finished third, but only about 230 votes away from winning a council seat.

This time around, he could have tougher opposition because he lives in the West District. Dave Johnson, the incumbent who occupies that seat, is the longest-serving city council member.

"I want to see stronger engagement between the council and the residents," Scalzo said. "There's going to be a lot of tough issues before the council in the next four years. It's very important that the residents are informed and engaged and that there's a level confidence between the residents and the city."

Even though the deadline for filing nominating petitions is Dec. 15, candidates want to be the first to submit paperwork to secure top spots on the April 7 ballot.

They also would get first ballot position if a Feb. 24 primary is needed for any of the districts. A primary would be needed only if five or more candidates emerge in any of the districts.

Jeanne Ives, a Republican precinct committeewoman, is making her first bid at a city council seat.

"There are a lot of reasons why I'm running," she said. "The short answer is when they raised the sales tax in Wheaton, I started to wonder, 'What are we doing?' I thought we need a better plan."

Council members raised the sales tax rate and trimmed $3 million in expenses as part of an effort to eliminate a projected $4.3 million deficit in next year's budget. Last week, they announced 17 full-time jobs would be cut next year.

-- Robert Sanchez

ELGIN

Gilliam, Figueroa among first to file (11:35 a.m.)

Political newcomers and grizzled veterans lined up Monday to take a crack at one of four Elgin City Council seats that will be up for election this spring.

Longtime council members Robert Gilliam and Juan Figueroa submitted petitions to run for two of three four-year seats available.

Gilliam, a council member since 1973, said balancing the city budget and maintaining services without a tax increase likely will be the council's priority for the next few years.

"I enjoy what I'm doing," Gilliam said. "I still feel there's still things to accomplish. We've been on the right track and I want to be a part of that,"

Figueroa, a council member since 1999. said he would continue to push for downtown redevelopment, especially north of the Gail Borden Public Library, and explore whether the city should switch to a ward system instead of having all six seats elected from the entire community.

City residents Charlene Sligting and Michael Robbins filed papers to run for an open two-year term.

Sligting, president of the South West Area Neighbors, or SWAN, said she wants to stop residential overcrowding by having the city base its maximum occupancy on the number of bedrooms instead of one person per 100 square feet.

"Because Elgin is a home rule city, we can amend the code - and we need to," she said.

Robbins could not be reached for comment.

Elgin City Clerk Diane Robertson said a lottery would be held Dec. 16 to determine which candidates are listed first on the ballot.

Overall, the filing period ends at 5 p.m. Dec. 15. At least 24 people have picked up petitions to run for a seat.

If five or more people file for the two-term, it will trigger a primary election Feb. 24. Thirteen or more people must run for the three four-year seats for a primary to be held.

Councilman John Walters' term also is up next year. Walters, who has been on the council since 1986, said he plans to file his papers later this week.

-- Harry Hitzeman

PALATINE

Mullins files but takes pass on lottery (6:49 p.m.)

Candidates for next year's local elections began filing Monday to get on the ballot - though Palatine Village President Rita Mullins wasn't among them.

Former Chicago Bear Jim Schwantz and local businessman Vito Manola both filed to run for Palatine mayor.

Mullins also arrived at village hall to file for a sixth term. But rather than get into a lottery who'll be first on the ballot, Mullins decided to wait and try to get the last spot. That's generally considered better than being in the middle if your name isn't first.

Former Councilman Warren Kostka didn't submit his paperwork Monday but said he still intends to run.

Filing runs through Dec. 15 for suburbs like Palatine, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg that could have a primary election on Feb. 24.

New to that list this time is Mount Prospect, which has not historically held primaries but could have one next year because of changes in state procedures governing primaries.

As of midday Monday, three people had filed to run for village president in Mount Prospect, including incumbent Irvana Wilks. The others were Ernest Lasse, who ran in 1997 and 2005, and newcomer Patricia Bird, who has a degree in economic and public administration and makes her first run for elected office.

As in Palatine, a lottery will determine which of the three will be listed first on the ballot.

Steve Polit and John Matuszak, both appointees to the Mount Prospect Village Board, also filed for two of the three trustee seats up.

In Palatine, three council seats are up. Incumbents Brad Helms, Greg Solberg and Mike Jezierski filed, as did Aaron Del Mar, who'll run against Jezierski in District 1.

In Hoffman Estates, the five incumbents whose terms are ending - Mayor William McLeod; Trustees Raymond Kincaid, Karen Mills and Jackie Green; and Clerk Bev Romanoff - all filed and plan to run as a slate.

In Schaumburg, only Trustee Jack Sullivan filed, though fellow incumbents Marge Connelly and Tom Dailly have expressed interest in running for re-election.

Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson's and Clerk Marilyn Karr's seats aren't up until 2011.

Not all of these towns will actually have primaries on Feb. 24, however.

A nonpartisan primary is triggered when the number of candidates who file exceeds four times the number of positions available for an office.

Karr said that's a change from the last municipal election, when the number of candidates that would necessitate a primary was lower.

The general election for these and all local governing bodies, including parks and school districts, is April 7. Filing in non-primary entities is next month.

-- Eric Peterson, Mark Black, Kimberly Pohl and Ashok Selvam AURORA No surprises in city races (5:43p.m.)The opening of candidate filing for Aurora's spring municipal election yielded few surprises Monday.The six incumbent aldermanic candidates and the three previously declared mayoral candidates, including incumbent Tom Weisner, all showed up before the doors of the Aurora Election Commission opened at 9 a.m.Candidates have until the end of business Dec. 15 to file their nominating petitions, but the incumbent aldermen have secured their positions atop the ballot by being the first to register.A lottery will be held within nine days of the last day of filing to determine if Weisner or his mayoral challengers, Ward 3 Alderman Stephanie Kifowit or Alderman at Large Richard Irvin, will have the top ballot spot.Ward 8 Alderman Rick Mervine said it was important to be there early to show voters he is serious about the job and also assure top ballot position."For me, the work I'm doing is important and I want voters to see that," he said. "Everybody's got their own timetable and mine was to show up early."Mervine will be challenged in the Eighth Ward by lifelong resident Jason Minalga, a business developer, who filed just before the commission closed Monday evening."Our city is being run very similar to the out of control spending we're seeing at the state," Minalga said. "We've got too many friends of the program running things and that needs to change. I'd like a chance to represent the people and help put city in a better spot than where it is today."Alderman at Large Robert O'Connor, Ward 2 Alderman Juany Garza, Ward 4 Alderman Rick Lawrence, Ward 7 Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, Ward 9 Alderman Leroy Keith and Ward 10 Alderman Lynda Elmore also filed Monday. Hal Beebee II also has filed to challenge Lawrence in the Fourth Ward.In the past, three candidates for any Aurora city hall race would have forced a primary, but changes to the election law now require more than four candidates to require a primary. Without a primary, all the candidates will be on the April 7 general election ballot.Kifowit believes the three-way race for mayor doesn't favor any single candidate and the contest will be won by the candidate who is able to best relay their message."I think there's a pro and a con to everything," she said. "There are many things that I'll be critical about, but not negative or slanderous. There's a bunch of money being spent on projects that are going nowhere."Irvin said his campaign will focus on the economy and employment."For the last four years we've had a mayor focusing on social services, which is fine, but now we need a mayor that's going to bring jobs to Aurora," he said.Weisner is wrapping up his first term and said the city is doing better after four years under his watch than in previous years."Crime is greatly reduced and the quality of life is up," he said. "Overall, there's a sense we're moving in the right direction."In September, Weisner had surgery to remove colorectal cancer from his liver. It was his second bout with the disease during his tenure as mayor. "There isn't anything to worry about," he said. "I wouldn't run if I didn't think I'd be able to do the job."-- Jake Griffin NAPERVILLE 11 seek city council posts (10:37 a.m.)Eleven Naperville residents officially have declared their candidacy for city council.Monday was the first day to file nominating papers for a spot on the April 7 ballot. There are four open 4-year seats on the council and one 2-year seat to fill the unexpired term of Darlene Senger, who recently was elected to the state legislature. John Rosanova is the only incumbent whose term expires who is not seeking re-election.Nine people are running for the full terms. If there are 17 or more by the end of filing on Dec. 15 there will be a primary election on Feb. 24 to narrow the field to no more than 16.Charles Schneider, 47, is an information technology consultant to municipalities and arrived at city hall at 4 a.m. to be first in line for the filing. All candidates arriving by 8 a.m. will be entered in a lottery to determine the order in which they will appear on the ballot.Schneider said he wants to bring his information technology skills to Naperville and "bring transparency in government, relieve some of the congestion along Route 59, but most importantly be a voice to those people who will elect me to this office..."Two incumbents, Douglas Krause and Kenn Miller, are hoping to retain their 4-year seats. Krause, 60, is a real estate broker who has been a councilman since 1989 and says his experience is key."It's imperative to have that with the changeover taking place, the number of openings," he said. "And to bring a voice to the council of balance of business and residential."Miller, 63, is president of Miller and Co. management sales and marketing consulting firm and a member of the council since 2005."I love what I do as a city councilman and want to continue to service the community," Miller said. Three members of Naperville's plan commission are seeking a 4-year spot on the council - Patty Gustin, Joe McElroy and Paul Hinterlong.Gustin, 48, is a real estate broker who has sat on Naperville's zoning board and Lisle's plan commission."I sell real estate in the market so I know tons about the area and construction and everything else that goes on in the community and I think we need some fiscal responsibility and community values," she said.In addition to the plan commission, McElroy, 56, also helped start the Naperville Development Partnership. He owns a Naperville-based consulting firm specializing in marketing communications and city planning.Work with various Naperville groups "helped me understand the city is going into a new phase of its history and since I'm a city planner by training, I want to try to help the city in this new phase," he said, citing the slowing of the city's growth.Hinterlong, 43, is a plumber and pipe-fitter. In addition to the plan commission, he also has been involved in the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation and a committee that planned the city's 175th anniversary."The opportunity arose that they (city council) needed a few people so I'm stepping up," he said.A former plan commission chairman also will be on the ballot. Judith Brodhead, 57, is an English professor and coordinator of cultural events at North Central College. She has served on the zoning board of appeals and transportation advisory board and just finished a term as president of the League of Women Voters. "I think I have a huge amount of experience and this is a time when the city is going to be facing a lot of challenges and needs people with solid experience," Brodhead said.Also filing Monday was Kamala L. Martinez, 44, a senior account executive in response marketing services for RR Donnelley and a member of the company's diversity council and Naperville Junior Woman's Club.Martinez said she's running for a 4-year term to "volunteer and serve my community and to get more involved."Ken Bochenski, 67, retired senior vice president of operations and technology for Spiegel catalog company, says he would bring his business acumen to the council. He has been active with Loaves and Fishes, the Sister Cities Commission and Cress Creek townhomes board."The economy is getting very tough and society is in trouble and I think after I've lived this long in town it's time to give back and I think the city council needs some new blood," he said. "They've been living with a silver spoon in their mouth for a long time and it's ballgame over."The economy is also a top issue for James Boyajian and Bill Eagan, who hope to fill the 2-year term.Boyajian, 59, is a retired marketing executive for Amoco Corp. who has been on the council since 2003. Initially he didn't plan to run for re-election but changed his mind when Senger's seat became available."This is a time in the city where we need experience for what is going on in the economy and our city's financial situation," he said.The city is working to fill a $5.1 million budget deficit that could grow to $11 million next fiscal year. Eagan, 35, is a certified public accountant and believes his credentials may be helpful during tough economic times."I figured we could use my financial experience on the board," he said.Five or more candidates for that race would force a primary.-- Melissa Jenco 512401Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins talks over her options with Deputy Clerk Laurie Rayborn. The mayor decided to delay filing for re-election in order to avoid the lottery for ballot placement.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512340Palatine Deputy Clerk Laurie Rayborn speaks to the candidates running for office in Palatine Monday morning before they file their paperwork. Monday was the first day of filing for the Feb. 24 primary.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512344James Boyajian front left Charles Schneider, center and Douglas Krause line the counter at the Naperville city clerk's office as they file to run for city council. There are four open 4-year terms and one 2-year term available.Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer 512341Charlene Sligting of Elgin, left, files her paperwork first thing Monday morning with Elgin City Clerk Diane Robertson. Sligting was one of several candidates filing to be included on the ballot for Elgin City Council in the upcoming spring election.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer 512336Palatine Deputy Clerk Laurie Rayborn accept Vito Manola's petitions. He's one of four candidates expected to run for mayor. Monday was the first day of candidate filing for a potential Feb. 24 primary.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512319Doris Sadik and Palatine Deputy Clerk Laurie Rayborn accept paperwork from candidates wanting to run for office in Palatine next year.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512347Doris Sadik and Palatine Deputy Clerk Laurie Rayborn accept Jim Schwantz's paperwork to run for mayor.Mark Black | Staff Photographer