There are nine city council members in Naperville, with the mayor being one of the nine. Three responsibilities separate the mayor from the other eight; 1) the mayor leads the council meetings, 2) the mayor is the liquor commissioner, and 3) the mayor selects board and commission members. It’s been working rather smoothly for quite some time, until the last city council meeting, when the council was asked to approve the mayor’s appointees for new board members. watch and listen as Naperville councilman Paul Hinterlong questions the approval of one appointee:
Hinterlong wasn’t questioning the person’s integrity, or years of city service, he was simply wanting others (common folk) to have a chance to participate. Good for Hinterlong to be a voice for those who are left out.
Now watch and listen to new council member Jennifer Taylor as she agrees with Hinterlong noting that fresh ideas and perspectives are needed.
This was followed by new councilman Paul Leong pointing out that choosing new people for board and commission members allows training ground for future leaders.
Councilwoman Patty Gustin joined those three in supporting opportunity for ‘new’ folks to participate rather than recycling longtime city government people.
In this specific case, the longtime city person is former Naperville city council member Judy Brodhead. She was termed out (May 2nd) in the last city council election (April 6th). Less than 44 days after after being shown the door out of municipal activities, the mayor wants to bring her back in, thereby eliminating the opportunity for someone new to participate.
The vote to approve the mayor’s appointees was 5 in favor and 4 against, with the 5th and deciding vote being made by Mayor Chirico, in other words, he voted to approve his appointees. Wow, didn’t see that coming.
The other four approving the mayor’s appointees included, Benny White, Theresa Sullivan, Patrick Kelly, and surprisingly new council member Ian Holzhauer. If anyone, would know the importance for instilling new ideas and perspective to city government, it would be a newly elected council member. How quickly they forget the road they traveled to get involved and then elected.
The ‘ good old boys’ club prevailed, in this vote, however congratulations to council members Paul Hinterlong, Jennifer Taylor, Paul Leong, and Patty Gustin for standing up and being heard for voices that are unheard.
It is no coincidence that these four also worked together this last election cycle to get Taylor and Leong elected with the help of former council members Kevin Coyne and Grant Wehrli. This group has formed their own “good old boys club” and many people are watching them closely to see what their next move will be.
The speculation going around? They will try and undo the ban on pet stores selling puppies and kittens from “commercial” breeders or eliminate the Opt In ordinance. We will have to wait and see, but we will surely hear from them during the next consolidate election in 2023 most likely with their own candidate for Mayor.
For transparency, I was one of the appointees approved by this vote.
Jim the pet store ban is likely going statewide. Any plot by current or former elected officials to undo the ban would appear to be a colossal waste of time. Though it will be interesting to see what happens with dog sales locally as Dog Patch has alluded publicly many times that it is struggling, the pet stores will likely be gone, and the shelters are from what I hear light on young dogs. Guess those places selling puppies online will be positioned well in the future – not a good end result for anyone or the dogs.
There has always been a shortage of puppies available from local shelters and rescues. This is why Doug has been bringing them in from out of state almost from day one of Dog Patch switching to adopting out rescues rather then selling puppies from local breeders.
Sorry I meant to say Greg not Doug.