Upset Taxpayer,

Take out a packet. Collect your signatures. And file early for a good ballot position.

Make sure you collect 2 or 3 times the number required. When things get nasty other candidates will challenge the validity of signatures so it is always best to have way more signatures than is needed. It is also a good idea to ask people if they are registered to vote in Naperville before letting them sign just to minimize the potential number of bad signatures.

Good Luck and best wishes! We desperately need a new city council. Four new faces this year and four more new faces in another two years. The four new faces this year will have to hang tough and work together to prevent being co-opted or marginalized by the remaining four.

The lack of any true leadership on the city council has been evident for many, many years. The vast majority of the city council members sit their like a bunch of spineless dummies most of the time. We simply have too much dead wood on the city council and it is time to remove a lot of stumps and replace them with fresh growth.

Start thinking about your platform and what the average Naperville citizen needs and wants. Recognize the existing city council is for all practical purposes nothing more than a rubber stamp for the bureaucrats over at city hall. The blindly accept over 90% of what is put in front of them with nary a lucid thought or challenging question. Why do we put up with this lackluster performance in government? In a private corporation if the board of directors was this incompetent with their fiduciary responsibility they would all be thrown out.

Forget the developers. There isn't that much open ground left for them to develop anyway. They have demonstrated for years that they will consistently put personal gain ahead of building a better community. And look at the mess we have to deal with after decades of the city council giving in to every whim and wish the developers shoved under their noses.

Forget the city hall staff. This is our city and they are supposed to carry out city business based upon what the citizens need and want. For way too many years they have dictated to the citizens what they want and have long forgotten that they are here to serve us and not the other way around. This is our city not theirs.

Pay attention to the residents, the citizens, the voters. Think about the families. Think about families with small children. Think about our elderly and the disabled. Think about ways to lower taxes... not by cutting essential services... just by cutting out all of the waste and fat.

Demand higher performance and productivity from all city employees. Reduced the total number of city employees. Take a hard look at city employee benefits, especially medical and retirement. Work to bring these benefits in line with private sector workers.

Most of all remember what you learned about government when you were in school and what you learned about the constitution, the bill of rights, and everything else you learned about how our government is supposed to work. Do your best to remember and represent the concept of We the People and you can't go wrong. Don't sell out to the developers, the lawyers and consultants, and any other special interests. Carefully watch who wants to give you campaign contributions so that you don't end up being 'owned" like most of the other council members.

Do this and you will win by a landslide.

Anonymous,
I was thinking of running for the city council this spring but I thought you needed way more than 186 petition signers. I can get that many signatures walking my subdivision. I collected at least that many signatures for the Napergate Man when he was promoting his petitions to stop encroahing commercialism on quiet subdivisions.

However, I would say I would be more likely to enter the election if the Napergate Man resurfaced. I have no money to spend but if I can be endorsed in ad after ad in those Napergate Ads, I feel I have the right progressive agenda to win. It seems like those establishment folks are loaded with money and can spend whatever it takes to get elected and maintain their grip and hold on Naperville!

I think the Napergate Man had the right idea and formula when he put 4 candidates together in a slot and promoted them together in each Napergate Ad. It cost a lot less when you promote candidates wholesale as opposed to each individually. Plus it did not cost the candidates anything since I believe the Napergate Man paid for the ads. And he once had all 4 of his candidates elected against all odds. I will never forget that day! I could not believe it!

Does anyone know where the first election forum will be held? I never expected to be competing against 17 others. But I still want to be a council member and try to make a difference and bring serious change to Naperville! I know Obama and McCain speak of change all the time on the Federal level. But we really need some serious well thought out change on the local level.

T.B.,

I don't think you will see inaction from the Napergatians this time.

It seems like it is a very opportune time for them to get involved and participate.

Warren Buffet had his money in bonds and cash for a long time. He finally jumped in to common stocks as it was an opportune time and he dose not like to miss an opportunity.

If you study the history of the Napergate Man you will see he also does not like to miss a good opportunity. The fiscal fiasco in the City of Naperville gives him an opportune time to return to politics and be a shaker and mover in the next election with his Napergate ads.

I believe when Host Ted published a single article on the Napergate Man, he woke up a few hundred Napergatians who blogged for nearly a year on this site.

If the Napergatge Man ran one single Napergate Ad, he would probably wake up a few thousand of his old supporters.

I think all that is needed in this town is a catalyst. I suspect the Napergate Man could light the match right now and be the catalyst to launch a battle against the entrenched establishment that is leading us towards unfortunate bankruptcy!

The 2009 Candidates Guide issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections and available on its Web site (Sept. 29, 2008 update) says that in the council-manager form of government--muncipal, the number of petition signatures required is at least 1 percent of the total votes cast in the last preceding election for mayor. In the 2007 general election for mayor, Pradel received 12,904 votes, Krause received 5,688, for a total of 18,592. 1 percent of that vote total is 186 petition signatures.

Another Anonymous,

I agree with you that the Napergatians and the Napergate Man are likely to participate in this election.

Waiting for bankruptcy is too late.

Now is the time.

Yes, if we have 17 candidates most likely a few of those are Napergatains or "closet" Napergatians.

Darlene Senger is an example of a "closet" Napergatian. Her heart is with the Napergatians but she downplays that to further her political career as much as possible. It is called trying to be politically correct and play both sides of the fence.

Anyway, I am willing to bet the Napergate Man resurfaces as this election heats up. I would put money on it...

TB,

Relax!!!

I recognized a few Napergatian names out of the 17 on the article published in the Naperville Sun.

Politics never goes as expected. Just like the stock market.

I disagree with Anonymous and think the Napergatians may join this election. They can't be blamed for the 10-11 million budget shortfall.

We all know the current city council and overpaid city manager is responsible for the financial crisis the city if facing.

Does anyone know how many signatures one needs on these petitions? Would you know, Host Ted?

I am not ready to run yet but curious for the future!

Anonymous on October 16, 2008 6:57 AM
It would be much better if they came on board after the town filed for bankrupty. Being in charge when the town files bankruptcy does not look nice. It could be a form of guilt by association by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, if you catch my drift!

Yes Anonymous I can see it now. How about this for a campaign slogan?: "Vote for the Napergatians - we sat around and did nothing while the town went bankrupt, but now we are going to save the city". Sounds catchy and I'm sure you will get a lot of votes that way.

Now let us see if the Napergatians agree with you and want the city to go bankrupt, or if they will condemn your apparent hope that it happens.

Anonymous on October 16, 2008 6:57 AM
I think the Napergatians are smart to sit on the sideline this election and let the establishment bankrupt and destruct the town.

_______________________________________________________

Anon: I've gone back through many of the past Naperville Potluck archives. Whenever the word Napergate or Napergatian is used the writer often speaks about how they are simply trying to help, make the city better, make life better for the masses, etc. All worthwhile causes - and while I don't always agree with them they at least were trying to help.

You, however, seem to indicate that all of the Napergatians now are going to sit back and let the city go bankrupt? Am I correct? You couldn't affect any change yourselves so now you just sit back? Hopefully you will correct this perception.

Anon –

Why step in and help when you claim to have all the answers and the city seems to need it? Sounds to me like a rationalization for Napergatian inaction.

T.B.

I think the Napergatians want the current administration to self-destruct. Our current officials are admitting to a 10-11 million shortfall in the budget next year. I bet it is closer to 20-22 million and they are sugar coating before an election.

Why would the Napergatians want to inherit this mess and be responsible for its repercussions? They never said they were magicians!

I think the Napergatians are smart to sit on the sideline this election and let the establishment bankrupt and destruct the town.

It would be much better if they came on board after the town filed for bankrupty. Being in charge when the town files bankruptcy does not look nice. It could be a form of guilt by association by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, if you catch my drift!

Let us see if the current city council can avoid bankrupty. My suspician is after this huge downfall in the stock market, that the police and fire pension funds are down 100 million instead of a mere 53 million. The taxpayers would never make up this kind of deficit especially since it would only be a band-aid of sorts. Also sales tax revenue is taking a huge dive in the last few months. More than our CFO could have ever budgeted in, factored in or even imagined!

Let us be patient and let the establishment hit rock bottom while at the wheel, before we call on the Napergatians to enter the frey.

So when will the "thousands" of Napergatians unite and present a slate of candidates for these vacancies? Or are they just all talk? Now's your opportunity.

T.B.

Who is the hypocrite,

Since when is giving praise when praise is do being hyper-critical? If you want to call the words negative because they aren't more hollow praise for lack-luster service, so be it. Fact is not everything in life can or ever will be positive. The whole point of you and the rest of the politically correct gang is that by giving people false positive feedback instead honest feedback you condition them to think they have done something worthwhile or meaningful when they really have not.

Yes, sometimes it is tough to face the music and hear the brutal truth about yourself. Fact is a person of integrity, a true leader will use that feedback to improve and make themselves stronger. And we also know what whiners and complainers like you will do with honest feedback. Reality is if you are going to junp in the public spotlight you have to be ready to take the good with the bad and if you don't have what it takes to make it through that then you don't have any business entering into the fray.

Bubo, your comments are spot-on!

Anonymous, and Another Anonymous, you seem to be awfully good at dispensing criticism from behind your anonymous moniker.

Since you seem to be so hyper-critical of these gentlemen who have given their time to public service, why don't you stop being so critical and channel your energy somewhere it could be used..........................say like the Naperville City Council.

Until then, keep your negative comments to yourself. We'd all just as soon you just say "Thank You" to these gentlemen for their service and move on.

You know, these days it seems the "politically correct" thing is all that a lot of people seem capable of doing. Take two really inept council members like Rosanova and Boyajian. The fact that they are not running for re-election is really and honestly a great relief. Gets two dead logs off of the stump if you ask me. Personally I would have rather seen them run and get defeated so they would really know what most citizens thought about the job they did.

Now we will have to sit thru the next several weeks of listening to all of the BS about what a good job they did... blah, blah, blah. Makes me want to stick my finger down my throat and puke just listening to hollow words like this.

When a person does a crappy job they don't deserve any of this false praise. Better to say nothing than to lie. Saying nothing isn't a lie and silence speaks volumes. Shake their hand and say goodbye at their last meeting and be done with it. Save the praise for those who really deserve it and don't diminish or dilute it with a bunch of meaningless words for those who are less deserving.

Taxpayer,

I think Rosonava is a snake and back stabber. He got the endorsement of the Napergate Man in his Napergate Ads and as soon as he got elected he became a slave and servant of the Brestal Law Firm.

I do not see any positive in the man.

And I do recall that council meeting in which he was yelling and screaming at residents after censuring Furstenau.

The guy is something else!

Not only is he a hypocrit but the Mother of all Hypocrites!

May God Bless him in his upcoming retirement! Good riddens to this man!

hey john

i actually think rosanova is a pretty good guy. i just think it was despicable for him to vote to censure DF for yelling at employees when he himself has gone off the handle a number of times. he even yelled at a citizen during a council meeting open forum once and was asked by the city manager to apologize to the man later in the meeting. ironically, it happened to be the same meeting he voted to censure DF for yelling at people. i just found that one act to be cowardly and hypocritical. he who is without sin cast the first stone, right? well i guess rosanova doesn't subscribe to that.

i have the same issue with boyaijian. his vote was hypocritical and self righteous. he has displayed as bad a temper and an ability to tell people off as anyone else. however, i have greater issues with him because i don't think the dust has settled on boyaijians council tenure. lets see what happens when the lawsuit is settled and we find out what role he played in the whole mess and how much money he cost the city. jury is still out on him on whether or not he is a crook. i have a funny feeling he isn't the innocent, well intended public servant some people believe him to be.

lets see where that ends up.

With how poorly newspapers are doing lately you're lucky they have money to do any reporting at all!

Fact Check!

The Naperville Sun used to have a strong habit and tradition of running announcements in the daily paper when additional candidates started circulating petitions. If, as you say, close to a dozen other applicants are circulating petitions it does cause me to wonder how or why this got past the Naperville Sun political reporter???

I know John Rosanova to be a great guy. I don't know Jim, but as a public servant, people will agree and diagree with you until the cows come home. Neither one of them are "cooks," they just happen to be people who some don't agree with. There's a very simple answer to the lack of interest in being a part of city council- with people having free reign to anonomously attack you and your character on blogs like these, why would you want to? I still believe this is a pretty great place to live, despite "taxpayer" and a handful of other people on other blogs trying to convince us it's not by being so negative. Thanks John and Jim! Your service on the council will be missed!

Just Wondering, there's close to a dozen people who have picked up the packets to run for a seat on the council. The seats will not remain empty.

I think the city owes a vote of thanks to Councilman Rosanova. He always appeared to approach issues with the desire to do the right thing for the city.

I once contacted Councilman Rosanova and encouraged him to vote against the 75th and Washington streets. Although he did vote for the measure, his response was courteous and professional. His kind of leadership on our Council will be missed.

Just wondering if we are going to be able to find 2 candidates to replace the 2 departing council members.

We may have to live with an 8 member council if no one steps forward.

It is hard to understand how this town lost interest in politics and its council.

Yes, in those good old Napergate Days we would have 12 candidates fighting ferociously for 4 positions.

Does anyone know what happened?

How about you Host Ted? Why is there suddenly a lack of interest in local elections? Why does no one seem to care? What is going on here?

JUST SAY NO

My thanks to anyone that has performed public service in a manner consistent with the benefit of the community. While I did not always agree with these two councilmen, I believe they were acting in good faith when they made their decisions.

Naperville is entering a new phase with little virgin territory left to develop leaving the Developers and the City looking at the City map with a pair of scissors in hand.

The first effort was the redevelopment of the housing near the downtown. Where we are today are structures completely dwarfing their neighbors; and, the owners of the new houses in many cases hoping no one will build a giant house next to theirs taking away their sunlight, their view and their drainage field. My recollection is that both of these gentlemen were very support of this first effort.

Given the current financial meltdown and Federal Government meltdown, how soon will the roaring 2000’s be back?

Unlike the last 25 + years, the City is heading into budget shortfalls after experiencing 50% + tax increases over the last few years. The homeowners are tapped out by the school systems, receipts from new house sales will shrink in almost every coming year until build-out is complete when it will stabilize at a lower number.

The days of easy tax money and free spending are over; $10 million in deficit is projected for the City next year.

The task at hand is managing the growth of spending and the decline of revenues.

If property values fall, does this mean that the school districts will have to go back to the voters with another referendum to raise the rates or face salary freezes or teacher lay offs?

The ability to say NO may be the main, if not only, criteria for the existing and new council members.

Are you qualified?

they're both crooks. they should have voted to censure themselves for some of their own behavior and votes tainted with conflict of interest, after the way they censured DF for taxpayer advocacy.

furthermore, i don't think we have heard the end of boyajian. he and wherli are the 2 people most responsible for spending millions on a lawsuit that should have been handled for nothing. maybe councilman bob can enlighten us on their "leadership" in regard to that fiasco.

Councilmen Rosanova and Boyajian deserve our City's thanks for their honorable service on the Council. Their skills and insights will be missed, and the mentoring they provided to newer Councilman like me was invaluable. John brought an awareness of the lessons of U.S. history to our deliberations. Jim contributed financial and organizational acumen that will be hard to replace. Naperville is stronger because of their leadership.