Naperville Says Farewell to 2 Councilmen, Makes Way for Newcomers

The city bid adieu Tuesday to two councilmen who will no longer be serving as of May 1.

Richard "Dick" Furstenau and James Boyajian were honored at the meeting — their last as councilmen — for their service to the .

Boyajian did not run for re-election April 5, Furstenau earned 4,596 votes in Will and DuPage counties but lost the race. Councilmen Grant Wehrli and Robert Fieseler secured two of the open, four-year seats and newcomers Steve Chirico and Joe McElroy snagged the others.

Furstenau was elected to the council in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

"It's been a wonderful time for me and my family as a councilman here in Naperville," he said Tuesday, thanking his wife for her support. "Probably the best thing that's happened to me in the last month is having the time to get back to the family. … This is going to work out well."

Boyajian also thanked his family, along with the city staff for their support. He was elected in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

"During Jim's tenure, he attended 288 City Council meetings and workshops and the city passed 1,734 ordinances and adopted 692 resolutions," Mayor George Pradel said, reading a proclamation in Boyajian's honor.

Furstenau, who never missed a regular council meeting while serving, attended 432 sessions. The council passed 2,842 ordinances and adopted 880 resolutions during that time, Pradel said.

The city will welcome its new councilmen and incumbents May 1 during an inauguration in the council chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

Pradel, the longest serving mayor in the city’s history, also will be inaugurated that day.