Naperville will see no lack of interest in filling four available City Council seats in the spring 2017 election, as five individuals — three incumbents and two new contenders — all declared their candidacies at the earliest opportunity.
From veteran civic leaders to “next-generation” citizens, the widespread appeal of Naperville’s elections became clear when incumbents Judith Brodhead, Kevin Coyne and John Krummen and newcomers Julie Berkowicz and Mike Isaac filed their nomination papers.
With diverse backgrounds, each candidate brought his or her own perspective to the race. At 65, Brodhead voiced the city’s need to examine the demographics of aging, while Krummen, 52, an engineer, highlighted environmental infrastructure needs.
"I absolutely love this job," Krummen said. "It's been a complete joy."
Berkowicz, 55, brings strong community involvement with an eye on youth, while Coyne, 41, an attorney, emphasized fiscal matters, including debt and tax reduction. Isaac, the youngest at 34, focused on the importance of guiding Naperville into the future while respecting its traditions.
"One of my passions behind running is ensuring that we have a consensus plan for our future," Isaac said.
If 12 or more applicants should file by the Dec. 28 deadline, Naperville would hold a primary in February to narrow the field. Thus far, however, only five additional residents have expressed interest.
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