Be prepared for 2023 nonpartisan local election events

Click here to review refreshed, edited, updated calendar with meet & greet events open to the voting public. Thanks!

Now thru April 4, 2023 / 2023 Nonpartisan Consolidated Election Reminder / From Naperville City Council to the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners to School District 203 and School District 204 Boards of Education, time has arrived to become familiar with important dates for voting as well as the names and qualifications of all the candidates running in the nonpartisan election…

Now / Mixed among those important dates are “meet and greet” events for candidates as well as public forums. Those dates in bold red below have been submitted by the candidates’ campaign committees and will be hosted in January, February and/or March. This online publication welcomes all candidates to list meet and greet events and fundraisers as well as forums that are open to the public. Events will be added as received from sponsoring organization or candidate. All interest is appreciated.

Jan. 4, 2023 / First Day to Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot in DuPage County

Jan. 8, 2023 / Jodi Trendler for City Council Campaign Kick-off / 3-5PM Sun., Jan. 8, at Allegory, 224 S. Main Street, downtown Naperville. Suggested Donation: $40 / Appetizers, soda and tea will be served. For more info: visit Jodi Trendler.

Jan. 12, 2023 / Josh McBroom for City Council Campaign Kick-off / 5:30-7:30PM Thurs., Jan. 12, at Empire, 48 W. Chicago Ave., downtown Naperville. TKTS: $50 each and sponsorships available at mcbroom4naperville.com/kickoff/. For more info: visit Josh McBroom. 

Jan. 12, 2023 / Jodi Trendler for City Council Meet & Greet at Aurielo’s Pizza / 6:30-8PM Thurs., Jan. 12 at Aurielo’s, 1975 Springbrook Square Drive. Suggested Donation: $40 / Pizza, salad and soda will be served. For more info: visit Jodi Trendler.

This week

Jan. 15, 2 023 / The Committee to Elect Madhu Uppal is hosting a Campaign Launch Event / 4PM to 6PM on Sun., Jan 15, at Mindful Meditation, 1783 S Washington St., Naperville, IL 60565. RSVP to the event is due no later than Jan 14 by emailing uppalfornaperville@gmail.com. For more info: visit uppalfornaperville.com.

Jan. 18, 2023 / Pack the Post for Mayoral Candidate Scott Wehrli / 5:30-8:30PM Wed, Jan. 18 / Meet & Greet Scott Wehrli at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, located at 908 W. Jackson Ave. For more info, contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@scottwehrli.com. RSVP as soon as possible as attendance will be limited. $50 Donation. RSVP: secure.anedot.com/scottwehrli/packthepostjan18. For more info: visit Scott Wehrli.

Jan. 20, 2023 / Trivia Night for Rebecca Malotke-Meslin for City Council / 6-9PM Fri., Jan. 20, at Judd Kendall VFW, 908 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. $35 per person / Mashed potato bar and desserts will be served. (Cash bar). For more details and to register, visit Trivia Night. For more info: visit Rebecca’s Campaign Page.  

Jan. 21, 2023 / Meet & Greet Scott Wehrli for coffee at Quigley’s Irish Pub / Candidate for Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli will welcome folks for complimentary coffee from 10AM to 11:15AM Sat., Jan. 21, in the Cottage Room at Quigley’s Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson Ave., in downtown Naperville. For more info: visit Scott Wehrli.

Late January

Jan. 24, 2023 / Fundraiser for Ashfaq Syed, Candidate for City Council / The Host Committee for Ashfaq Syed for City Council will hold a fundraiser at 6PM Tues., Jan. 24, at PappaRoti, 376 Route 59, 116. For more info: visit ashfaqsyed.

Jan. 26, 2023 / Last day for the local election official to certify candidates and public questions to the election authority to be included on the 2023 Consolidated Election ballot.

Jan. 31, 2023 / City Council Candidates Public Forum hosted by Senior Task Force and Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation / 7PM Tues., Jan. 31, City Council Chambers. Save the date. As of Jan. 16, 2023, all 11 candidates for Naperville City Council have replied that they will attend this public forum to be held at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street. Kindly note that beginning at 6PM candidates will have the opportunity to display campaign promotional hand-outs on tabletops provided in the lobby of the Municipal Center. Council Chambers also will be open for seating in advance of the forum set to begin at 7PM.

February

Feb. 3, 2023 / Patrick Kelly for Naperville City Council Fundraiser / Join friends of Patrick Kelly for his fundraiser from 6 to 8PM Fri., Feb. 3, at Solemn Oath Brewery, located at 1661 Quincy Avenue Suite 179. Suggested Minimum Donation: $40. For more info: visit Patrick Kelly.

Feb. 11, 2023 / Meet & Greet Scott Wehrli for coffee at Quigley’s Irish Pub / Candidate for Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli will welcome folks for complimentary coffee from 10AM to 11:15AM Sat., Feb. 11, in the Cottage Room at Quigley’s Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson Ave., in downtown Naperville. For more info: visit Scott Wehrli.

Feb. 20, 2023 / Naperville City Council Virtual Forum hosted by League of Women Voters of Naperville / LWV Naperville will host first of its series of forums virtually via Zoom beginning at 7PM Mon., Feb. 20. Advanced registration is required. The registration links will be found on lwvnaperville.org closer to the actual event date. The events are also planned to be run in real time via Facebook Live and planned to be posted on the League of Women Voters of Naperville YouTube channel after the event for prospective voter viewing. (Also see Feb. 23, March 6 and March 7.)

Feb. 23, 2023 / The first day Vote-By-Mail Ballots can be mailed out.

Feb. 23, 2023 / Naperville Mayoral Virtual Forum hosted by League of Women Voters of Naperville / LWV Naperville will host second in its series of forums virtually via Zoom beginning at 7PM Mon., Feb. 23. Advanced registration is required. The registration links will be found on lwvnaperville.org closer to the actual event date. 

Feb. 28, 2023 / City Council Candidates Public Forum hosted by Senior Task Force and Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation  / 7PM Tues., Feb. 28, City Council Chambers. Save the date. Details coming soon. As of Jan. 16, 2023, the 11 candidates for Naperville City Council have replied that they will attend this public forum to be held at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street.

March

March 8, 2023 / Naperville City Council Candidate Forum to Focus on the Environment / A City Council Candidate Forum is set for 7PM Wed., March 8, at First Congregational Church, 25 E. Benton. Candidates will be asked a set of questions about their views on how Naperville city government can address environmental issues. Voters will learn candidates’ plans to address the environmental impact of Naperville’s energy supply, transportation, and infrastructure. Audience members may submit questions. The candidate forums are cosponsored by Naperville Environmental Sustainability Task Force (NEST); First Congregational Church, Naperville; and the Greater Naperville Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). For more info, visit sustainnaperville.org/april-4-election.

March 10, 2023 / City Council Candidates Public Forum / A City Council Candidates Forum will be hosted by Islamic Center of Naperville at their Ogden Mosque, located at 2844 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville, IL 60540. The public is welcome to attend beginning at 6PM until 9PM on Fri., March 10.

March 11, 2023 / West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Parade / The WSI St. Patrick’s Parade steps off at 10AM Sat., March 11, meandering through downtown Naperville. Candidates appear to enjoy this festive family-friendly event when everybody’s Irish, marching with supporters and campaign signs to remind voters that the nonpartisan Consolidated Election follows soon. For parade registration info, visit www.wsirish.org. 

March 13, 2023 / Naperville Mayoral Candidate Forum to Focus on the Environment / A Mayoral Candidate Forum is set for 7PM Mon., March 13, at First Congregational Church, 25 E. Benton. Candidates will be asked a set of questions about their views on how Naperville city government can address environmental issues. Voters will learn candidates’ plans to address the environmental impact of Naperville’s energy supply, transportation, and infrastructure. Audience members may submit questions. The candidate forums are cosponsored by Naperville Environmental Sustainability Task Force (NEST); First Congregational Church, Naperville; and the Greater Naperville Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). For more info, visit sustainnaperville.org/april-4-election.

March 14, 2023 / Mayoral Candidates Public Forum hosted by Senior Task Force and Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation  / 7PM Tues., March 14, City Council Chambers. Save the date. Details coming soon. the three candidates for Naperville Mayor to serve City Council have replied that they will attend this public forum to be held at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street.

March 20, 2023 / Early In-person Voting begins 15 days prior to Nonpartisan Consolidated Election Day.

• 

  Naperville residents in DuPage County and Will County can vote early at the Naperville Municipal Center. Hours will be posted as in-person dates approach.

• DuPage County residents can vote early in the Media Room of the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton; visit dupageco.org/election for details. 
• Will County residents can vote early at the Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet; visit thewillcountyclerk.com/elections/early-voting for details.

April 4, 2023 / Election Day / Polls open 6AM to 7PM Tues., April 4

Voter Information for DuPage County / Register to Vote & More

Voter Information for Will County / Register to Vote & Voter-Services

Naperville nonpartisan Consolidated Election features 27 hopefuls running for 4-year seats

Official candidate websites (not social media) are linked to this website by personal candidate request or receipt of press release. Thanks to all candidates for throwing their hats into the ring. Former candidates, winners as well as losers, have told us more than once that campaigning—getting to know the community and meeting potential voters—is a most rewarding experience.

We are grateful to live in a community where every empty seat on Naperville City Council, Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners as well as Naperville Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie Unit School District 204 boards of education has a hopeful candidate running to fill it. —PN

Naperville City Council

City of Naperville Mission: To provide services that ensure a high quality of life, sound fiscal management, and a dynamic business environment, while creating an inclusive community that values diversity.

Naperville Mayor / Three candidates, Benjamin (Benny) White, Scott Wehrli and Tiffany Stephens, are vying for the four-year seat of Naperville Mayor on the Naperville City Council. 

Naperville City Council Members / Eleven candidates currently are vying for four four-year seats on the Naperville City Council. Listed here in ballot order are Nag Jaiswal, Rebecca Malotke-Meslin, Josh McBroom, Jodi Trendler, Patrick Kelly, Nathan “Nate” Wilson, Ashfaq Syed, Meghna Bansal, Ashley South, Allison Longenbaugh, and Madhu Uppal.

(Kindly note an appeal was heard on Jan. 6, 2023, regarding petitions challenged for mayoral candidate Tiffany Stephens and city council candidate Derek McDaniel. Stephens will remain on the ballot. Late this afternoon, Stephens said, “Had it not been the spirit of God coming to me, I might not have filed in the first place. I said a prayer before this morning’s court date on Zoom. Now I’ll keep going and take a ride for the journey.”)

Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners

Naperville Park District Mission: We provide recreation and park experiences that promote healthy lives, healthy minds and a healthy community.

Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners / By Dec. 12, 2022, four candidates had turned in petition packets to serve three four-year seats on the NPD Board of Commissioners. Candidates are Christopher Jacks, John Risvold, Rich Janor and Mahboube “Michelle” Haghighi.

Naperville School District 203 Board of Education

Mission Statement: Our mission is to educate students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers, and community contributors.

School District 203 / By Dec. 12, 2022, six candidates had turned in petition packets to run for three four-year seats on the 203 BOE. Candidates are Joe Kozminski, Kristine Gericke, Barbara Higg, Gilbert Wagner, Ronald Amato and Melissa Kelly Black.

Indian Prairie School District 204 Board of Education

Mission Statement: The mission of Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 is to inspire all students to achieve their greatest potential.

School District 204 / By Dec. 12, 2022, three candidates had turned in petition packets to run for three four-year seats on the 204 BOE. Candidates are Justin Karubas, Mark Rising and Catey Genc. 

Local elections matter most…

Be prepared to vote where it matters most—locally. Vote where you can meet, greet and get to know candidates who make decisions with the biggest impact on Naperville. Become familiar with elected officials, public policies and budgets up close. Attend public meetings or watch saved meetings in the archives of the City, school districts or Naperville Park District. Thank you.

A few campaign notes for now and the future: If more than 16 candidates had filed for any of the the four available seats by deadlines in 2022, a Primary would be held in February 2023. Also, taking out a petition packet does not necessarily mean it will be returned by that packet-picker-upper. Registered voters may sign more than one petition if they live in the City of Naperville. Note, too, that residents who live in unincorporated Naperville may not vote for City Council members. Signing a petition does not mean the registered voter necessarily supports the candidate. Signing simply means support of the election process, mindful that every candidate needs signatures in order file to be placed on the ballot.

Good news! A 2023 Primary Election will not be needed in Naperville, Illinois!

Since many residents claim to have voter fatigue, rest up! Be energized with knowledge that locally elected officials are the ones that impact your life the most. All eligible voters are urged to get to know the candidates, their qualifications and their commitment to community service in Naperville. Be informed by Consolidated Election Day, April 4, 2023.

Thanks for reading and paying attention. PN will begin focusing on the issues in this election beginning in late January, and through the election at www.election.positivelynaperville.com.

Originally Posted, Jan. 6, 2023 / Last Updated, Jan. 17, 2023