Naperville is up to 7 candidates for Naperville’s upcoming city council race in 2025 as both Benny White and Ian Holzhauer announced that they will join Jennifer Taylor, Farid Shabazz, Ashfaq Syed, Meghna Bansal and Mary Gibson as candidates.
The Watchdog is surprised to read Holzhauer is running again. He’s been a ghost for years now. He’s missed numerous meetings and important events. For those watching the council meetings, he seems perpetually unprepared. He has not been shy about publicizing an assortment of personal issues which may explain his lagging performance. The job of a councilman is demanding and Holzhauer clearly lacks either the time or interest to give the position his full attention.
White, on the other hand, does a very good job at being present at events and brings experience that this young council lacks. The question looming over White is whether or not he learned anything from his mayoral race….namely that Naperville is not Evanston (yet anyway). Branding oneself as a liberal political activist is a complete loser of a campaign strategy. If White moves to the center (where he started when he first ran) he should win easily.
The Watchdog has raised the issue of both White and Holzhauer having received full tax exemptions on their homes for year due to their claiming full disability from their military service. The Watchdog has never raised this issue lightly. The WD comes from a military family and has worked with the VA extensively. The WD has even spoken to numerous legislators about this benefit and why it was passed.
This tax benefit was intended to provide financial relief to severely wounded veterans, namely those wounded in combat. It was intended for veterans of modest financial means. Neither White nor Holzhauer were in combat, neither are of modest financial means, nor are either severely disabled. Their taking this enormous financial benefit for many years was simply abusive and repugnant.
All this said, the Watchdog believes Benny White on council again is a net positive all things considered. He’s experienced and he’s moderate on the dais (he just needs to do better at presenting himself as politically moderate on the campaign trail).
The Watchdog feels quite the opposite about Holzhauer. He’s a grandstander who regularly throws his colleagues under the bus with impromptu stunts. He also appears to “wing” the meetings and misses way too many important City events. Holzhauer was stronger at the beginning of his term but has since fallen significantly. He should take a cycle off for his sake and for all of ours.
This will be a very competitive council cycle with 7 candidates already announcing…at least 6 of whom have financial means and strong resumes. While if the election were today, White would make the highly coveted list of WD endorsed candidates, it would not at all be surprising if either White and/or Holzhauer were unseated in this election.
It’s gonna be interesting….
Totally agree with your evaluation. Holzhauer really needs to run for higher office as his experience on the board suggests he is better suited for that campaign and office. We need folks that will put the needs of Naperville above state and national political issues. We also need someone that is present. I agree also on White, I may not agree with him on all issues but he has been committed to the council.
So McBroom should go? He did, after all, admit his migrant housing endeavor was not serious (a political shot at Naperville liberals), which would be better referred to as a divisive political boondoggle that wasted city resources and tax dollars. An activity that does not in any way serve the best interests of our community.
Everything you and the WD claim Holzhauer is guilty of could also be said for McBroom, who the WD has consistently defended.
It’s hard to take anything the WD says about Holzhauer seriously considering his unwavering partisan support and defense of McBroom.
As to what the legislation was supposed to be for, that is one person’s conjecture. The reality is, if this was supposed to be the scope of the legislation, it would have been easy to compose it in a way to make sure this happened. And if the legislation is being used in a way not intended by the majority, then the majority in the legislature could easily change this legislation, which they have shown no interest in doing.
I, as a veteran (who also has a family history of military service), fully support both Ian and Benny in their decision to make use of this benefit. Again, this is a classic example of the political right saying one thing, then acting in a completely different manner when it benefits them politically.
The political thing to do, would have been to remain silent at a potential threat to local public safety and resources. When 6 bus loads full of illegal migrants were dropped at Naperville train stations, with an almost daily plea from Chicago for suburbs to help with an unsustainable migrant housing crisis, it would have been irresponsible to not address it publicly.
You never heard me say I was unserious in my motion. That’s a lie. I was dead serious in my motion. But it did highlight the absurd, hypocritical, inhuman practice of open borders to a population that has largely supported the effort- I do not regret that.
I did find it interesting that it caused a national discussion about whether or not wealthy American suburbia should be asked to house illegal migrants, and shortly after that discussion- the bus loads stopped coming through the burbs. Also telling, that no one contacted me to ask if they could sign up to house any homeless migrants. I know you didn’t, Jim.
Virtue signaling compassion seems to not extend to people’s neighborhoods, and certainly not their homes.
As pointed out in multiple media articles/stories, there are already organizations in Naperville doing what you proposed. In fact, that is exactly the information staff share in the report. The report you had them waste city resources researching and reporting back to you.
You basically admitted in your interviews with the media you intended to create controversy in the community. Leadership is not about engaging in activities they know will divide the community, it’s about engaging in activities that unite the community. Engaging in divisive behavior like this is what politicians do, and we don’t need politicians that use city council to promote their political agendas in our city government.
And please don’t try to deny your behavior was all about national politics rather than the community’s best interests. You did national interviews implying that “rich” communities like Naperville don’t want to help these people. You even made sure the press knew about the letter you wrote to Abbott. Your own statement, “Get on the train, go to Chicago, nice to meet you but keep moving,” that you told the media you believe is the dominant attitude in Naperville, relieves your thinking even before you got the city staff and government involved. These are not the actions of someone interested in serving anyone but themselves and their political ambitions.
As to the number of buses involved. It is true that a member of city staff claimed there had been six, but when checked into by multiple sources, the actual number was determined to be two. This staff member did later correct herself and said there were only two with an unknown number of migrants. And these buses had stop arriving weeks before this issue came before city council.
Further, it was reported that they were met by a representative that put them on the next train to Chicago. Exactly how does this impact public safety? Since when does a person traveling through Naperville using public buses and trains threaten the community? Or was your intention to re-enforce some stereotypical racist narrative based on the ethnicity of these migrants?
Golly Jimmy- trying to virtue shame from your utterly indefensible stance seems silly at best. We can’t take Josh’s word over the many studies and articles that you cite? You question the majority of the residents of Naperville who would prefer not to have busloads of criminals shoved down our throats? Not seeing the irony and sarcasm dripping off that request to City staff is simply beyond understanding. There are 116 people in the City of Naperville who support housing illegals in our town. Everybody else sees that for the socially suicidal stupid idea that it is.
Unless we can bulldoze Top Golf, and turn it into a refugee camp- solve two problems with one coup de main.
Spot on Jim. Mcbroom lied and everyone knows it as it was exposed. He’s trying to gaslight citizens.
Taylor is the one who should go seek higher office as she has already done that and shown that she has higher political aspirations than focusing on Naperville
Thanks, Naperville’s Northern Liberation Front for making my point. Your statement “Not seeing the irony and sarcasm dripping off that request to City staff is simply beyond understanding” re-enforces that McBroom’s actions were a waste of city resources and funds.
And you did not even address how the only person that actually benefited from McBroom’s actions were McBroom and his political career, not the residents of Naperville.
So you believe the citizens of Naperville should take the word of a man that clearly used his elected office for personal benefit over that of the various media outlets that clearly show McBroom’s actions were not in any way beneficial to the city of Naperville or it residents.
McBroom’s delusion of self-importance is demonstrated in his implying his action stopped these buses from coming to Naperville, when in fact these buses were stopped by Texas when the cost became public at the end of December.
Swell, let’s get this topic all the way off the tracks and on to the only subject that seems to matter… a couple of Councilpersons did a veteran thing that didn’t look good afterwards because of a lot of incendiary attention. We get it. They were good men for serving and they are entitled to benefits. We get it. It doesn’t look good when you take advantage of benefits which your opposition can paint as scandalous. We get that too.
I, as a veteran (whose family has military history documented to Viking times) do not support making Ian and Benny’s use or non-use of any Veteran’s benefit the single most important issue in Naperville. It’s not even relevant to the discussion of those two very Councilpersons re-upping for the next contest. Can we please limit the whole Veteran’s benefit hullabaloo to just the 9 or 10 threads it has already marginalized?
Back to the Candidate discussion… let’s take a look at the latest. Two existing Councilpersons have expressed an interest in getting elected again. They have an existing body of work to review as Councilpersons. I am confident Naperville can make educated choices on that. As to the non-legacy hopefuls, as of late only Farid Shabazz has been spotted here in the North, caught exercising with a little road work for the long battle ahead, so our endorsements are still being held close to our chests.
I would like to amplify the comments that Jennifer Taylor should not seek reelection since she and Paul Leong after little more than a year on council chose to seek higher office. By turning their backs on the people who elected them then to pursue their political ambition, they have disqualified themselves for consideration.
As for where Ian has been, given your tiresome rehash of earned veteran benefits, it seems that maybe living in your head
I’m not sure how you can argue that Jennifer Taylor disqualified herself for consideration when she withdrew from the State Rep race due to her family and focused on Naperville. You may not agree with some of her positions, but she has served on City Council, prepared for meetings, attended all meetings, etc.
Ironically, Janet Yang Rohr ran for that same State Rep seat right after being re-elected to another term the District 203 School Board. Have you criticized her?
Janet Yang Rohr Ran for that seat and Naperville conservatives had a meltdown. but it’s ok for Taylor. Typical gaslighting by naperville conservatives
I would like to amplify that this is a ridiculous post by an unserious person. Disqualified? Who made Mark the arbiter of qualifications?
Also, Joan. No one cared, including me, that Yang Rohr ran. What most cared about was the fact that Madigan Inc. spent 3.6 million dollars to buy her a seat. Ethics matter always and Janet’s moral compass is clearly for sale to the highest bidder.
Grant – I am completely serious about elected officials should serve the full term that they campaigned for. I am serious this is my opinion that this breach of trust is a disqualifying event for me. If it is for others is obviously their decision but there is nothing ridiculous about making sure voters aware the fact that both Taylor and Leong made the choice to run for higher office with the majority of their city council term before them.
Grant, you’re wrong again. Local conservatives had a meltdown and still do about Yang Rohr. She got more votes from citizens.
Candidly, I was disappointed that Janet Yang Rohr took money from Mike Madigan to win Grant’s State Representative seat (Grant was doing a great job and Madigan obviously wanted him out of the picture). In fact, I had voted for Janet when she ran for District 203 School Board and thought it was a bit surprising. But, I wouldn’t say that anyone who I know had a meltdown.
As far as Jennifer Taylor, people commenting seem to be forgetting that Jennifer actually withdrew from the State Rep race and has been serving on City Council and working for the people of Naperville for the past three years.
Ron –
What I am not forgetting is the fact that Taylor and Leong both chose to seek state office early in their council terms. The fact that Leong lost and Taylor withdrew due to personal issues does not change the facts. Naperville voters deserve leaders who are committed to them and not their personal political ambitions.
Mark maybe the answer is to ask all the candidates to sign a statement swearing they will not seek higher office during their council term should they win. If benny and Ian refused to sign the statement would you stop supporting them? Because they would refuse to sign it…
Mark’s comments are only directed at seeking “higher” office outside of city government. Benny running for mayor is not what Mark was talking about.
As to “liberals” running for higher office while still serving on city council I simply ask you to name one that has done this in the last 30 years or even longer ago.
Jim liberals never could win in Naperville until recently so there isn’t much history to go off there. Republicans are not winning anything in Naperville until Trump is gone. If anyone seeks running for higher office from the dais it will be one of the Ds. If you are so concerned about it I would urge you to ask for a public commitment that none of them do this.
I agree it would be worthwhile to ask candidates running for city offices that they would not seek non-municipal offices until completion of their elected terms. I had no issue with Benny running gor mayor or Patty Gustin running for county board after she termed out on council. While a previous contributor questioned if Benny or Ian would do so, what do you think Jennifer or Paul would do,? Based on past action, I think we know the answer to that question.
I have lived in Naperville for over 30 years and the conservative in this community has been referring to members of every city council as liberals. So I don’t know were you are getting your information but it is, surprise, WRONG!!!
I think we have just identified who the real nuts are.
While it was unfortunate for Taylor’s political ambition that family illness derailed her run for higher office, it does change the fact that she did choose to fo it. When voters elected her, they trusted that she would serve her term but that trust was broken by her intended action even though she had the benefit of her council seat as a safe harbor just Leong who lost his race. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
As for Janet Yang-Rohr, I agree that her action would disqualify her for again running for school board for exact same reason stated for Taylor and Leong.