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Candidate forums address local issues prior to 2019 Consolidated Election

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Above / North, East, West and South, find news about upcoming Naperville Candidate Forums on this page.


Candidate forums featured and/or linked here for the nonpartisan Consolidated Election have been planned by active local community groups, including the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Naperville League of Women Voters, the Naperville AAUW as well as home and school organizations.

The community-wide forums have showcased candidates running in the nonpartisan elections on Tues., April 2.

It is our opinion, strongly reinforced by feedback we have received from the community, that before the next Consolidated Election cycle, all the groups that want to host candidate forums will better serve the community by collaborating their efforts. This year’s schedule of candidate forums has been excessive and demanding for hopefuls, most of whom are employed, running to serve volunteer elected positions.  We’ll provide more ideas about all that when time allows.

Meanwhile, thanks to the candidates and everyone who goes to the polls as an educated voter.  —PN


Get to know all Candidates before April 2, 2019

Naperville Mayor – Elect One

Candidates for Naperville Mayor are Steve Chirico and Rocky Caylor.

Naperville City Council – Elect Four

Eleven candidates hoping to fill one of four four-year seats for Naperville City Council member are Patty Gustin, Paul Hinterlong, Michele Clemen, Nancy TurnerTheresa SullivanJoe McElroyWhitney Robbins and Patrick Kelly, Barbara O’Meara, Bradford Miller and Bruce Hanson.

School District 203 Board of Education – Elect Three

Six candidates hoping to serve one of three available four-year terms on the School District 203 Board of Education are Cecilia Fox, Kristine M. Gericke, Joseph F. Kozminski, Janet Yang Rohr, Becky Rudolph and Char Lynnette Dalton. 

School District 204 Board of Education – Elect Three

Five candidates hoping to serve one of three available four-year terms on the School District 204 Board of Education are Mark RisingJustin J. Karubas, Carole M. Jones and Gautam “GB” Bhatia and Natasha Grover.

Heads Up! Post, Feb. 14, 2019 / All candidates running in the Consolidated Election as well as voters in School District 204 need to be mindful of proposed developments in Aurora that greatly could impact the schools. On Feb. 13, 2019, District 204 School Board President Mike Raczak addressed the Aurora Planning Commission during the public comment portion of the meeting. Read Raczak’s remarks HERE.

Update! Feb. 28, 2019 / According to Board President Mike Raczak, on Feb. 27 the Aurora City Council approved the first development in this plan, a senior housing development called Cedarwood, to be built on vacant land at 75th Street and Ogden Avenue. While the board supports the addition of senior housing to the mix of residential options in the community, members have repeatedly expressed concern to the city over the economic incentives offered to the developer. The agreement includes creating a tax increment finance (TIF) district for the development. Doing so precludes the district from receiving any property taxes for the next 23 years beyond the current very low taxes generated from the vacant land assessment.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan for the Route 59 Corridor includes the possibility of creating other TIF districts as incentives for developers. The next one likely to be discussed is a TIF on a residential property that will produce students for our district. If the City continues to create TIF districts, we will receive additional students from developments without adequate funding to support their education. This will have a negative impact on our entire district.    

On behalf of the Board of Education, Board Secretary Cathy Piehl addressed City Council to express concerns during the public comment portion of the meeting on Feb. 27, 2019. Read Piehl’s remarks HERE. 

Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners – Elect Three

Three candidates vying for three four-year terms on the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners are incumbents Rich Janor and Marie Todd, and newcomer Josh McBroom. (No contest)

College of DuPage Board of Trustees – Elect Two

Four candidates are seeking to fill two 6-year terms on the College of DuPage Board of Trustees. Newcomers Annette Corrigan of Wheaton, Marc Incrocci of Darien, Dan Bailey of Wheaton and  Maureen Dunne of Naperville will compete for the seats since the two incumbents are not seeking re-election.

Be prepared… Vote April 2!

Early Voting begins March 18 and runs until April 1. PN editors are traditional and always recommend voting on Election Day. Polls are open 6AM to 7PM on Tues., April 2.

Campaigning is a huge commitment and duplicating efforts is not always efficient for the candidates or the audience of potential voters when time is so precious. We certainly understand when conflicts and previous commitments prevent perfect attendance throughout the two-month schedule of nonpartisan public forums.

Yes. We are aware we have not distinguished the incumbents. Our aim always has been for educated constituents to do their homework and become acquainted with elected officials who set public policy and approve budgets. If an asterisk denotes incumbency, it’s often an unfair advantage in a candidate listing. Thanks for visiting campaign websites where the candidates tell their status of service—and likely much more.

Click Here & Link to Meet & Greet Candidate Events / Fundraisers – RePost 2 (Feb. 19 & Beyond)

Candidate Forums / Current Schedule

The following public forums featuring candidates in various races are listed below. With meet and greet events as well as neighborhood coffees, many opportunities are presented to get to know the folks interested in serving our community. PN will not tell residents how to vote, but we will urge residents to be informed voters. It just takes a little homework and taking the opportunity to meet the candidates up close. Thanks.

Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation Candidate Forums (Pending candidate availability.)

  • WHERE: Council Chambers, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street
  • Completed! WHEN: 7PM Mon., Feb. 4 – Naperville Mayor (Videotaped)
  • Completed! WHEN: 7PM Wed., Feb. 13 – School District 203 Board of Education (Videotaped)

Every NAHC forum will be live on public access TV and streaming online as well as rebroadcast.

Completed! Naperville League of Women Voters & District 203 Home and School Board co-host District 203 School Board Candidate Forum. All League candidate forums are run by trained moderators, who come from outside of Naperville. 

  • WHERE: Naperville North High School Auditorium
  • WHEN:  7PM to 9PM Tues., Feb. 12
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a mixer of 13 round tables with a seat open at each table for every candidate to circulate with a pitch and to answer questions from potential voters. Organizers pictured are NACC Board Member Ryan McIntyre, Director Government Affairs Colin Dalough and President CEO Nicki Anderson. 

Completed! Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Mayor/City Council Candidate Mixer / Note New Format for 2019: One table for each candidate where they will answer questions for 5-6 minutes per table answering questions for 8-10 potential voters.   

  • WHERE: Embassy Suites, 1823 Abriter Court, just north of Diehl Road
  • WHEN:  4-6:30PM Wed., Feb. 20, 2019 / Registration begins at 4PM. Program will kick off at 4:30PM. Formal Speed Networking ends 6PM. Open Networking begins 6PM.

This event is free of charge, but registration is suggested via www.naperville.net. Light refreshments will be served. Cash bar. Please also note that the NACC does not endorse political candidates and is distinct from NACPAC.

Every format is different. After introductions, three candidates in a row answered the same question until all 16 questions presented by the moderator had been addressed.

Completed! Naperville City Council Candidate Forum jointly hosted by Indivisible Naperville, ACE, Naper Gals, Moms Demand Action, Voice of Indian Americans and Stand on Every Corner; as well as DuPage Township, Wheatland Township, Lisle Township and Naperville Township Democratic Organizations, 

  • WHERE: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street, Meeting Room B
  • WHEN: 7PM to 9PM Wed., Feb. 20, 2019
Well-prepared candidates for Naperville Mayor & City Council passed the microphone during a Q&A organized by the South Homeowners of Wheatland (Township). New subdivision development, roads and traffic, public services (leaf collection and snow removal), affordable housing and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) received the most attention during the forum that attracted about 75 residents.

Completed! Meet & Greet Candidates Forum hosted by South Homeowners of Wheatland (SHOW) 

  • WHERE: 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Road
  • WHEN:  6PM to 8:30PM Thurs., Feb. 21
  • RSVP:  Everyone’s welcome!
  • FREE 
  • 20-Year advocates for 30,000 residents in dozens of subdivisions seek all candidates for Mayor/City Council to participate. Candidates RSVP to Kenn Miller at (630) 544-1211.

Indian Prairie Education Association (IPEA) hosted a Candidate Forum on Mon., Feb. 25, in the auditorium at NVHS. Under very bright lights, the five hopefuls running to serve the Indian Prairie Board of Education answered well-crafted questions asked by three student-government moderators representing NVHS, MVHS and WVHS. The Q&A enlightened the audience about a board member’s role to address policy and challenging budgets, a dedicated time commitment that now also includes “advocacy” in the community and in Springfield. An informative printed program included candidate bios. The candidates faced up again on Feb. 25, in Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center. Get to know them.

Completed! Indian Prairie Education Association, Indian Prairie Classified Associations & Region 52 of IEA-NEA / Impartial Open Candidates School District 204 Forum / The forum will be live streamed and later hosted on the IPSD.org website.

  • WHERE: Neuqua Valley High School, 95th Street
  • WHEN: 7PM to 9PM Mon., Feb. 25, 2019

Completed! Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation Candidate Forum / School District 204 Board of Education (Click here to watch videotape.) 

  • WHERE: Council Chambers, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street
  • WHEN 7PM Tues., Feb. 26 
Eleven candidates running for one of four seats to serve City Council answered questions: Whitney Robbins, Patty Gustin, Joe McElroy, Theresa Sullivan, Barbara O’Meara, Paul Hinterlong, Pat Kelly, Bruce Hanson, Michele Clemen, Bradford Miller and Nancy Turner.

Completed! Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation Candidate Forum / Naperville City Council (Click here to watch the video.)

  • WHERE: Council Chambers, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street
  • WHEN: 7PM Thurs., Feb. 28 

Completed! Naperville League of Women Voters & Naperville AAUW co-host Mayoral Candidate Forum / All League candidate forums are run by trained moderators, who come from outside of Naperville. (Click here to watch videotape.

  • WHERE: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street
  • WHEN: 7PM to 9PM Mon., March 4, 2019

Completed! Naperville City Council Candidates Forum hosted by Indian Community Outreach / (Click here to watch the videotape.)

  • WHERE: Naperville Municipal Center – Council Chambers
  • WHEN:   12:30PM to 3PM Sat., March 9
  • FREE & Open to Public.
  • RSVP:  Everyone’s welcome!

Five candidates hoping to serve one of three available four-year terms on the School District 204 Board of Education are Gautam “GB” Bhatia, Natasha Grover, Carole M. Jones, Justin J. Karubas and Mark Rising.

Completed! Naperville League of Women Voters & District 204 Indian Prairie Parents Council Co-host District 204 School Board Candidate Forum / All League candidate forums are run by trained moderators, who come from outside of Naperville. Note: Why is it so important to know about the candidates you will vote for on April 2? 

  • WHERE: Indian Prairie Administration Bldg, 780 Shoreline Dr, Aurora, IL 
  • WHEN: 7PM to 9PM Mon., March 11

While much of the thoughtful Q&A addresses issues similar to other forums, one new thing viewers learned is how often the candidates dine around Naperville.

Completed! Naperville League of Women Voters & Naperville AAUW co-host City Council Candidate Forum / (Click here to watch video) All League candidate forums are run by trained moderators, who come from outside of Naperville. Why is it important to be an informed voter before April 2? Elected officials make important decisions about this 39.4 square mile-city with 147,682 residents and an operating budget of $429 million. Do the candidates have the skill set to follow public policy and manage it all? 

  • WHERE: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street
  • WHEN: 7PM to 9PM Tues., March 12

Final Week of Forums!

Monday, March 18! Public Candidate Forum for District #502 College of DuPage Board of Trustees sponsored by College of DuPage Adjuncts Association (CODAA) and Student Leadership Council (SLC), funded by CODAA’s Political Action Fund. Note that CODAA and SLC do not endorse any candidates.  

  • WHERE: Turner Conference Center, SRC 2000, College of DuPage, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.
  • WHEN: 3-6PM Mon., March 18, 2019
  • 3PM Forum Doors Open to Public
  • 3—3:20PM / Candidate Arrival & Informal Reception
  • 3:20 / Candidate Forum (3:20—3:25PM / Welcome by CODAA President & Introduction of Moderators)
  • 3:25—3:45PM Candidate Opening Statements—5 minutes each
  • 3:45—4:25PM Q & A from written questions from audience.
  • 4:25—4:30PM Short intermission
  • 4:30—5:10PM Q & A from written questions from audience.
  • 5:10—5:30PM Candidate Closing Statements—5 minutes each
  • 5:30—6PM Candidate Meet and Greet

Tuesday, March 19! Council Candidate Forum for D203, D204 & College of DuPage Boards jointly hosted by Indivisible Naperville, ACE, Naper Gals, Moms Demand Action, Voice of Indian Americans and Stand on Every Corner; as well as DuPage Township, Wheatland Township, Lisle Township and Naperville Township Democratic Organizations, 

  • WHERE: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street, Meeting Room B
  • WHEN: 7:30PM Tues., March 19, 2019

Completed! 7PM Wed., Jan. 23, 2019 / Naperville Mayoral Candidate Forum

Naperville Mayoral Candidate Forum jointly hosted by Indivisible Naperville, ACE, Naper Gals, Moms Demand Action, Voice of Indian Americans, DuPage Township and Wheatland Township Democratic Organizations, and Stand on Every Corner. Forum held Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street, Meeting Room B, at 7PM Wed., Jan. 23, 2019.

Completed! 7PM Mon., Feb. 4 / City of Naperville Mayoral Forum hosted by NAHC

With one City of Naperville Mayoral Forum completed in January, the first February forum also features candidates for Naperville Mayor, Steve Chirico and Rocky Caylor. Hosted by the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation and moderated by NAHC President Steve Grosskoph, the Mayoral Forum is slated to begin at 7PM Mon., Feb. 4, in City Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street. The NAHC Mayoral Forum will be broadcast live on government access cable TV and rebroadcast (Click here to connect to taped streaming of the forum on the City’s website.) on a schedule to be determined and later announced.

Next up! 7PM Mon. March 4 / City of Naperville Mayoral Forum hosted by Naperville League of Women Voters

The Naperville League of Women Voters Forum featuring candidates for Naperville Mayor is set for 7-9PM Mon., March 4, in City Council Chambers, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street. (The League of Women Voters will host a total of four candidate forums listed among other forums in the above schedule.)

What is a Naperville Mayor expected to do?

Since 1969, Naperville has operated under a Council-Manager form of government, a change that was made mid-way when Milton Stauffer served as Mayor from 1967 to 1971. (Other mayors that followed have been G. Kenneth Small, Chet Rybicki, Margaret “Peg” Price, Sam Macrane, George Pradel and Steve Chirico.)

For 50 years, the individuals in the Naperville City Manager’s seat have served as the professional chief administrator for all city operations and public services. Appointed by the nine-member City Council that includes the Mayor, the City Manager is responsible for executing the policies established under Council Rules. 

The Mayor, in addition to being a member of the City Council, serves as the Liquor Commissioner, as required by state law. The Mayor also may choose to represent the City of Naperville in a variety of official roles and ceremonial affairs. 

Further, the Mayor is responsible for running the City Council meetings, usually held at 7PM on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The Mayor also chairs many workshops that lead to the approval of the annual budget

What’s more, the City of Naperville has in place nearly 20 boards, commissions and tasks forces served by more than 250 local volunteers on which members of non-voting City staff also serve. One of the Naperville Mayor’s responsibilities is to fill those boards with dedicated participants who bring other sets of skills and community interests to the table.

Otherwise, the Mayor’s job description is pretty much undefined, open to the Mayor’s priorities with available time to represent the City well.

Since the 2018 special census estimated a population of 147,841, Naperville has been ranked the fourth-largest city in Illinois, behind Chicago, Aurora and Joliet. Naperville is approximately 40 square miles, located in DuPage and Will counties.

Naperville Municipal Election is nonpartisan with term limits

The Naperville Municipal Election is nonpartisan. Since 2015, the Naperville City Council has had limits on its four-year terms. The Mayor is limited to serving three 4-year terms. Every City Councilman is limited to serving three 4-year terms. To stagger turnover, four councilmen are elected to four-year terms every two years. When deciding public policy or budgets, the Mayor and every City Councilman have one equal vote.

The City of Naperville is a separate taxing body in addition to the Naperville Park District and two local school districts. Growth and development approved by the City Council likely has an impact on its community partners, including the Naperville Park District and both school districts as well as local businesses.

Click Here: Link to Meet & Greet the Candidate Events

Note that as the list grew to more than 10, the growing number of candidate forums for this important election were posted and updated on a separate page. Yes. This important election has drawn interest from many hopefuls to fill empty seats on City Council and school boards. Get to know how they will represent you as policy wonks and budget approvers by attending a candidate forum or meet & greet.

Here’s hoping that future elections will attract forum organizers to collaborate efforts and work together. The 2019 Consolidated Election Campaign Season has been packed with an abundance of forums that have attracted limited live audiences. Thank you very much for coordinating efforts during the next election campaign where local matters most!

Any misspelled words and info that is not correct are not intended. We appreciate that the candidates and their handlers value this page for promoting their events because they want to get to know their constituents. Thanks for reading.

Last Updated, March 17, 2019.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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