Interest strong in City Council seats

Interest in the four City Council seats up for election in the spring continues to grow, with 17 candidate packets picked up so far.

Up for election in April are four seats on the council. Those whose terms expire are James Boyajian, Doug Krause, Kenn Miller and John Rosanova. While Krause and Miller are both seeking another term, Boyajian and Rosanova have decided not to run again.

Two members of the city's Plan Commission intend to run for a council seat: Joe McElroy and Patty Gustin.

"Based on my many years of experience with the city of Naperville, and the village of Lisle before that, I can use those experiences in my desire to help address a broader range of city concerns and development," Gustin said via e-mail.

Also running is Judith Broadhead. She has served for 16 years on boards and commissions including Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Transportation Advisory Board. She is also a board member of the Naperville League of Women Voters and an English professor and cultural event coordinator at North Central College.

Ken Bochenski, retired corporate vice president of operations for Spiegel catalog group, hopes to bring his business background to the council.

"The economy is bad, the city has a revenue problem," he said. "They're going to have to cut the budget or they're going to have to cut services."

Also planning to run is CPA Bill Eagan, who works as a finance manager at Kraft Foods and adjunct accounting professor at Harper College.

Those who said they are still considering a run include attorney Kevin Lynch, retired Bolingbrook Police officer John Moravecek, downtown business owner and Pepsi Co. employee Chris Finck, and computer programmer Eli Hodapp.

Others who picked up packets but could not be reached for comment include Lucy Kalkman, Michael Prueter, Charles Schneider and Chad Treisch. Resident James DerKacy previously said he picked up a packet for informational purposes, and Councilman Miller signed out two packets.

Just because 17 packets have been picked up doesn't mean the city will have to hold a primary election.

"We could have 100 packets picked up, and that's not going to do anything," City Clerk Pam LeFeber said. "It's how many packets get turned in." Seventeen candidates whose packets have been verified by election officials are needed for a primary election.

The primary election for the City Council, should one be necessary, will he held Feb. 24.

Packets can be picked up through Dec. 8 at the city clerk's office at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.