Incumbents and Newbies Split Four Seats on City Council

While one three-term councilman was ousted Tuesday, two incumbents and two newcomers split the race for Naperville City Council.

Earning 4,596 votes in Will and DuPage counties, lost in the municipal election. Councilmen and secured two of the four, four-year seats and newbies and Joe McElroy snagged the others.

Wehrli led the group with 11,003 votes and Chirico, Fieseler and McElroy followed, in that order. The race between McElroy and was neck and neck throughout the evening, but he ultimately beat her with 5,607 votes to her 5,134.

"It was a very tight race," Gustin said, graciously, during a 10:30 p.m. phone interview. "Joe had run two years ago when I ran, so we both had that name recognition.

She said overall, she's proud to have campaigned among such a quality group of individuals.

"I would have loved to see another woman on the city council," she said. "But it is what it is. The voters have spoken and I respect that."

Those voters brought on Chirico, a businessman and first-time candidate who tallied 8,858 combined votes.

"We're excited, eager and just so happy," he said. "We're so appreciative of everyone's support. Naperville is going to benefit from this."

He went on to thank his wife, who is also his campaign manager, calling her his "inspiration."

Fieseler pulled 7,606 votes. His campaign was based on fiscal responsibility, environmentalism and transparency.

"As a city councilman, I view myself as having three different roles," he . "The first role is to vote responsibly on measures that are put in front of us … The second role of a councilman is to be a good contact person for people who are looking for city services and for some reason not getting them naturally … The third role is one that allows councilmen to promote certain initiatives."

He champions clean energy, rail commuter amenities, job creation and providing housing for the elderly and "empty nesters."

Fieseler beat out other council hopefuls including , , , , and Ben Gross. Candidate John Adair announced last month that although his name would still appear on the ballot, he had dropped out of the race.

Krummen, who made his first bid for council, said that despite the loss, he wouldn't trade the experience.

"This was a learning experience," he said Tuesday night, shortly before 11 p.m. "It's like spring training. You figure out what you did well, what you did wrong, what you want to improve on and you come out even stronger the next time."

He vowed to run again in two years.

"I have to see how the lay of the land is next time around," Krummen said. "I have a strong message and I think it's a message that once it gets out there again, will resonate with people."

Wehrli and Fieseler did not immediately return phone messages left Tuesday night. McElroy also could not be reached for comment.