Politics & Government
Naperville 2021 Election: City Council, School Board Races
Naperville voters will head to the polls April 6 to choose members for village council and local school boards.
NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville voters will head to the polls Tuesday, April 6, to cast their votes for city council. Voters will also choose new members for Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204.
Below, you'll find some information about each race and its candidates.
Naperville City Council
Eleven candidates are vying for four open seats (four-year terms) on the Naperville City Council. The candidates are listed below, alphabetically by last name.
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Vasavi Chakka
Vasavi Chakka has lived in Naperville for more than 16 years. Chakka works as an IT professional and small business owner, according to her campaign website. She and her husband have two children.
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Chakka's campaign website states, "My 20-plus years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies, ensuring high-quality execution of organizational business services will be a great asset to serving on City Council. I will support business-friendly governance for small businesses to recover and thrive; Promote smart economic growth by safeguarding our businesses from unwanted taxes and regulations, and attract new businesses."
Click the link to view Vasavi Chakka's campaign website.
Lucy Chang Evans
Lucy Chang Evans has lived in Naperville for the past 15 years. She is a "former Secret Service agent, civil engineer, and an MBA student at the University of Illinois," according to her campaign website. Evans is married and has three children.
On her campaign website, Evans writes, "I am running, because I expect my elected officials to make responsible decisions for people like me. I want to advocate for ordinary citizens who are concerned about our city, but might not have time to get involved in community action."
Click the link to view Lucy Chang Evans's campaign website.
James Haselhorst
James Haselhorst has lived in Naperville since 1994. He has managed a dental practice in downtown Naperville for the past 26 years, according to his campaign website. Haselhorst has served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years.
On his campaign website, Haselhorst states, "The continued well-being of these communities are essential to our city’s present and future prosperity. The city government plays a key role in this by listening to what these groups/communities have to say and supporting them through outreach programs like the Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) commission, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Social Services Grant (SSG) programs, as well as other private/public partnerships."
Click the link to view Haselhorst's campaign website.
Ian Holzhauer
Ian Holzhauer grew up in Naperville and currently works as an attorney at Nagle, Obarski & Holzhauer P.C. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force. Holzhauer is married and has four children.
On his campaign website, Holzhauer outlines his plans for community development, which include supporting renewable energy initiatives, improving quality of life and providing modernized training and equipment for first responders. His campaign website states, "The Naperville I grew up in is facing its greatest challenge in a generation. The global pandemic and our eroding respect for each other in public discourse are threatening our community. We must protect working families and small businesses, preserve our environment, and keep Naperville a welcoming community for diverse families."
Click the link to view Ian Holzhauer's campaign website.
John J. Krummen
Incumbent city council member John J. Krummen has lived in Naperville for the past 15 years. Krummen works in technical sales leadership for a manufacturing startup and as an adjunct professor at local universities. He and his late wife have two sons.
Krummen's campaign website states, "First and foremost, I am proud that the city has maintained level property taxes throughout my first 2 terms on council. The city’s budget is approximately $500 million dollars, and includes police, fire, public works, the electric utility, and water utility and other public services. I have a professional background in finance, engineering, and capital project management. I taught graduate level finance and have served as the Council Liaison for the financial advisory board since 2015. I also have participated calls with the bond rating agencies of Moody’s, and Standard & Poor. I have consistently been a debt hawk and have led the way to reducing the city’s debt by $60 million."
Click the link to view John J. Krummen's campaign website.
Paul Leong
Paul Leong has lived in Naperville for more than 20 years, according to his campaign website. He currently serves on the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 board of education. Leong is married with two children.
Leong's campaign website states, "Naperville needs financially sound leadership to support the citizens of Naperville during our struggle to weather the pandemic and rebuild our lives and town. A recession is projected, and my background in accounting and audit could be essential to working through tough budgeting decisions. While on the D203 board, we permanently cut the levy and called for the first refund (in process) in the history of the district, all while leaving a healthy surplus and maintaining academic performance. It is my goal not only to survive, but to thrive as a stronger and more united city."
Click the link to view Paul Leong's campaign website.
Allison Longenbaugh
Allison Longenbaugh has lived in Naperville for more than 16 years. She has worked at J.P. Morgan for 29 years, according to her campaign website. Longenbaugh and her husband have three daughters.
Longenbaugh's campaign website states, "Naperville is consistently ranked nationally as a Best City to Raise a Family because it delivers for its residents. Its residents are highly satisfied with the city’s services, and Council has used the results of the 2016 Citizen Survey to allocate resources. The top priorities of residents are to improve traffic flow and congestion and to maintain our infrastructure. Naperville should lead the way forward in the post-COVID world. Our city's success is built on the strength of our community and the City Council needs creative solutions to help its residents. We must work together as a community to get through this challenge."
Click the link to view Longenbaugh's campaign website.
Vincent E. Ory
Vincent E. Ory has been a lifelong resident of Naperville and has served on the city's historic sites commission.
Ory believes transparency is the most pressing issue facing Naperville.
Click the link to view Ory's candidate profile.
Jennifer Bruzan Taylor
Jennifer Bruzan Taylor grew up in Naperville, where she currently lives with her husband and two children. Taylor is an attorney who worked as a Cook County Prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago.
Taylor's campaign website states, "I know how small business owners feel right now because as a child my family lost their small business in Naperville. Closing our video rental store financially devastated us, and took years to get back on our feet. We must actively help our small businesses survive right now. Small businesses are the lifeline of our community. Local owners know that they only succeed if everyone succeeds so they invest in us. They support each other, charities and local organizations in many ways. Their unique offerings bring non-residents to Naperville to spend their money, thereby lowering resident’s tax obligations."
Click the link to view Jennifer Bruzan Taylor's campaign website.
Mark V. Urda
Mark V. Urda has lived in Naperville for 40 years and has served on the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.
Urda's campaign website states, "The urge by some to turn parts of Naperville into an urban showcase is tremendous. Their desires, and the allure of tax dollars, is not the sole measure of a project — the people’s voices must be taken in equal measure! Public confidence in our government is a byproduct of heeding public input, not merely giving us a venue to express it. Too many times, I have seen that input cast aside and choices made despite the public’s wishes. Too many people feel left out of Naperville’s plans. It’s not the government I’m satisfied with. I want to be the champion for a balanced approach to governing."
Click the link to view Mark V. Urda's campaign website.
Benjamin White
Incumbent council member Benjamin "Benny" White was elected in 2017. He has also served on the Indian Prairie School District #204 Board of Education. A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, Dr. White is married and has two children.
White's campaign website states, "Benny is committed to keeping Naperville as the best city in America to raise a family. This requires courageous leadership and bold decision making based on sound research and analysis by city staff and key stakeholders. During Benny’s first term as a Naperville City Councilman, he took a proactive approach in engaging residents and businesses in a variety of areas, including but not limited to the following Key Issues for 'Moving Naperville Forward Together.'"
Click the link to view Benny White's campaign website.
Naperville Community Unit School District 203
Nine candidates are running for four open four-year terms on the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education. The candidates are listed below, alphabetically by last name.
Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204
Eleven candidates are running to fill four seats on the Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 Board of Education. Each seat will serve a four-year term. The candidates are listed below, alphabetically by last name.
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