Voter’s guide to the Naperville municipal elections

Voters in Naperville will head to the polls on April 4 to elect a new mayor and city council members, among other local elected offices. Learn more about who’s running and some of the issues they are running on.

Who’s running for mayor?

Incumbent Steve Chirico announced in July 2022 that he would not run for a third term as mayor. Three candidates are running to succeed him.

Benny White is a retired Army officer who has been an incumbent city council member since 2017. White previously served on the Indian Prairie school board from 2012 to 2017. He also has served on Naperville’s fire and police commission, and the Naperville Development Partnership. White is running on increasing the candidate pool for police officers, promoting diversity and increasing the number of affordable housing units in Naperville.

Scott Wehrli is a local businessman. Wehrli has been a member of the city’s liquor commission for 29 years. He has also served as chairman of the Naperville Development Partnership and has been a part-time police officer with the Naperville Park District. Wehrli has been running on public safety, claiming Naperville has become more dangerous. He has also been running on revitalizing commercial properties and spending taxpayer’s money wisely. 

Tiffany Stephens is the owner of a non-profit organization. Stephens faced a challenge to the validity of her candidacy late last year. The objections were filed by Arian Ahmadpour, a member of the Will County Young Democrats. Ahmadpour claimed Stephens had been living at an Aurora address as of July 2022. Illinois law require candidates to have resided in the municipality they are running in for at least a year before the election. In December, the Naperville municipal electoral board ruled Stephens could stay on the ballot. Ahmadpour then filed a lawsuit in DuPage County court seeking to reverse the electoral board’s decision. The judge ruled in favor of Stephens, but knocked Derek McDaniel, a city council candidate, off the ballot. 

Stephens has rarely stated a clear position on the issues during the campaign. However, according to her campaign website, she has a three-step promise that includes listening to residents, learning what’s important to the community and connecting with residents to enter into meaningful dialogue. 

Who’s running for city council?

Eleven candidates are running for four open city council seats. Only one incumbent is running for reelection. The other three incumbents are Paul Hinterlong, who is term-limited, Theresa Sullivan, who opted out of running for a second term and Nicki Anderson, who was appointed in December to fill the seat left vacant by Patty Gustin, who was elected to the DuPage County board in November. 

Nag Jaiswal is an engineer and entrepreneur. Jaiswal has served on the Naperville Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission. He is running on protecting property values, focusing on public safety, and encouraging economic growth and sustainable development. 

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin is a small business owner and former school administrator. Malotke-Meslin is running on establishing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within city services, creating a city-wide strategic plan and making Naperville a leader among communities around the area. 

Josh McBroom is a financial advisor and a Naperville Park District commissioner. McBroom also serves on the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is running keeping Naperville business-friendly, protecting tax dollars and providing resources to police and first responders.

Jodi Trendler is a non-profit executive. Trendler has served as the head of the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force. She is running on planning for more clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure, economic development and innovation, and increasing community engagement with the city’s government. 

Patrick Kelly is the only incumbent running for reelection. Kelly is a lawyer and currently serves as the city council’s liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission and the Downtown Advisory committee. He is running on maintaining long-term financial security for the city, making sure the police and fire departments have the resources they need, and responsible property development. 

Listen to some of the candidates running for city council

Nate Wilson is a financial software engineer. Wilson also serves on the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission. He is running on keeping taxes low, keeping Naperville business-friendly, providing first responders with the resources they need and providing a streamlined process in local government. 

Ashfaq Syed is a banker. Syed also serves as a trustee on the Naperville Public Library Board. He is running economic development, community safety and affordable housing.

Meghna Bansal is a financial executive. Bansal currently serves as a trustee on the Wheatland Township board. She is running on providing more resources to law enforcement, fiscal responsibility, sustained economic growth, and diversity and inclusion.

Ashley South is an executive of a publishing company and a former project manager. South is running on providing tax breaks for local businesses, providing help to those who are dealing with mental and physical crises, affordable housing and committing the city to ‘going green’.

Allison Longenbaugh is a banking executive. Longenbaugh ran for city council in 2021 but finished in fifth place. She serves as a trustee on the public library board. Longenbaugh is running on being responsible with the city’s tax dollars, developing commercial and residential properties in a transparent process and focusing on the shared needs of the community.

And finally, Madhu Uppal is a retired public school teacher and former library board trustee. Uppal is running on providing the resources law enforcement and first responders need, fiscal management and sustainability, and enhancing programs for seniors, teens and young adults. 

Voting information

Early voting at local Naperville polling locations started on March 20. The following locations will serve as early voting locations through April 3:

• Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. (For both DuPage and Will County voters)
• Islamic Center of Naperville, 25W530 75th St. (DuPage County voters)
• 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Road. (Will County voters)

On Election Day, voters in DuPage County will have the option to cast their ballot at any polling place in the county, not just at their local polling place. This is part of the county’s “Vote Anywhere” initiative that was introduced last year. All Election Day polling places in Naperville that are located in DuPage County can be seen on Google Maps below.

Voters in Will County can find their Election Day polling place by entering their address on the county clerk’s website.