While it may seem that election season just ended, NACC Government Affairs staff has been busy gearing up for the next voting opportunity.
Local elections will be held on April 1st, but early voting begins this month on February 20th.
Candidates for Naperville City Council have received our election questionnaire, and we will be sharing their responses when we receive them.
Another unique opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their positions on issues that affect the business community, is to attend the NACC Candidates Forum to be held on Tuesday, February 25, from 5-7 PM in the Community Room of the Nichols Library downtown. The format will be similar to “speed dating”, as it features an opportunity for candidates to each provide a three-minute introductory opening statement to the whole group, followed by 8, seven-minute “rounds” moving from table to table and talking with smaller groups. Space will be limited, so we advise members to save the date and to sign up as soon as registration opens.
Because terms are staggered, half of the council seats are up for election, while the other half will be up in two years. The following council seats are at mid-term and will not be on the ballot: Mayor Scott Wehrli, Patrick Kelly, Allison Longenbaugh, Josh McBroom, and Nate Wilson.
In total, voters will be asked to choose 4 council members from among 8 candidates.
For the 4 contested seats, 3 incumbent members of the council are running for re-election. They include:
- Ian Holzhauer – first elected to the city council in 2021. The U.S. Air Force veteran is an equity partner at Campbell Holzhauer Concierge Law, an estate planning and business law firm.
- Jennifer Bruzan Taylor – First elected in 2021. A career lawyer, she worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and has taught Constitutional Law at North Central College.
- Dr. Benjamin “Benny” White – first elected to the city council in 2017. The retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army previously served on the Indian Prarie School District 204 Board of Education and founded the local nonprofit Naperville Neighbors United.
An additional 4 candidates are making another effort after previously running for council. The first had his petitions challenged and did not appear on the ballot in 2023. He is:
- Derek McDaniel – senior financial advisor and area business owner, who is currently on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. (Petition challenge in 2023)
Another 3 candidates appeared on the ballot, but ran unsuccessfully in a crowded field two years ago:
- Meghna Bansal – finance executive for the past two decades, who also serves on Planning and Zoning Commission. (Unsuccessful campaign for city council in 2023.)
- Nag Jaiswal – works as a senior program architect. He and his wife, Sheela, founded an area nonprofit Salome Foundation. (Unsuccessful campaign for city council in 2023.)
- Ashfaq Syed – 30 years working as a banker and currently serves as President of the Naperville Public Library Board of Trustees. (Unsuccessful campaign for city council in 2023.)
Finally, there is one new candidate for city council:
- Mary Gibson – President of the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners. She has worked as the director of a Missouri-based data analytics firm and currently serves on the Naperville Riverwalk Commission.
Current council member Paul Leong opted to not run for re-election. Another individual, Farid Malik Shabazz, had his petitions challenged and will not appear on the ballot.
NACC encourages all members to educate themselves on the candidates and to participate in this important election. Our business community’s voice must be heard if we want Naperville to remain a great place to live, work, and play!