Latest news with #IanHolzhauer
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Naperville Councilman Ian Holzhauer announces bid for DuPage County Board
Fresh off starting a second term on the Naperville City Council, Ian Holzhauer has announced plans to run for DuPage County Board next year. Holzhauer made the announcement on his personal Facebook page Sunday night just hours after being sworn in for another four years on the council. 'The number one duty of candidates and elected officials is to be candid with voters,' his post read. 'Many have asked about my future intentions. Rather than be cagey, I will be straightforward: I will be running for DuPage County Board in District 5 in the midterm election.' District 5 comprises most of Naperville and sections of Aurora in DuPage. Reached over the phone Tuesday evening, Holzhauer confirmed his plans to run as a Democrat, saying the county board is a place where he felt he 'could make a contribution.' 'I've been an admirer for the last couple of years of the leadership on the county board (and) of how collaboratively the board is able to work,' he said. 'I look forward to applying some of the lessons I've learned from governing in Naperville and learning new things in DuPage County.' Holzhauer was first elected to council in 2021. Holzhauer said that he had been 'mulling this for awhile' but that the decision to seek this office is something he reached within the last week. He also said that the 'composition of the city council' that he'd be leaving behind should he get elected to county board was 'certainly a major factor in my decision process.' Holzhauer's announcement comes just over a month after the April 1 consolidated election, where he emerged as the third-highest vote getter in the eight-way race for council. Holzhauer was reelected alongside fellow incumbent Benny White as well as newcomers Ashfaq Syed and Mary Gibson. Before they were elected, the group had aligned themselves in the months leading up to April 1 and together received the backing of both prominent Naperville Democrats and the party itself. All four were inaugurated Sunday afternoon. The first meeting of the new council was set for Tuesday night. 'The results of the Naperville election were a big influence because I believe that with the current composition of council that we have, we're going to be able to accomplish a huge amount of things in the next couple of years,' Holzhauer said. 'It makes me very comfortable that the council will be in good hands beyond that point.' Holzhauer said that as a board member, he'd focus on expanding countywide mental health initiatives. 'The county has this unique position to deal with what I consider to be our nation's single biggest crisis right now, which is the mental health crisis. … We've done what we can in the city, and I'm really proud of that work,' he said. 'But this is just taking it to another level.' Holzhauer said he would also focus on tackling development challenges that the county faces 'being almost fully filled out.' District 5 seats are currently held by Democrats Sadia Covert, Dawn DeSart and Saba Haider. Haider, of Aurora, was just elected to the board last fall after unseating former Naperville City Council member Patty Gustin. Her term is up in 2028. For Covert and DeSart, both of Naperville, their terms are up in 2026. The seats, however, would be elected separately, according toDuPage County Chief Deputy Clerk Adam Johnson. Term limits for the county board are staggered, Johnson said, speaking over the phone Tuesday. For each of the board's six districts, there are three seats. Those are divided into two, four-year terms and one two-year term. How those terms are divided between members is decided by a lottery system held each redistricting year, Johnson said. The last time the county decided term lengths for its 18-seat board was in 2022. Per the results of that lottery, DeSart's seat is up for a two-year term next year while Covert's seat is up for a four-year term. Holzhauer said that he would be seeking the four-year seat. Should more than one candidate from a party vie for the seats, there would be a primary election to decide who gets the nomination. DeSart said in a call that she intends to run for the two-year District 5 seat. Covert could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. In response to Holzhauer's bid for county board, DuPage County Republicans called the move 'absolutely ridiculous.' 'Not even 24 hours after being sworn in as a Naperville City Councilman, Ian Holzhauer announces a campaign for another office,' DuPage GOP wrote on Facebook Tuesday. 'Wouldn't the transparent and 'not cagey' thing to do … have been to have told the voters he was running for another office before they voted him in for another term as their councilman? There's a reason many people do not trust politicians. This is a good example as to why.' tkenny@
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville Councilman Ian Holzhauer announces bid for DuPage County Board
Fresh off starting a second term on the Naperville City Council, Ian Holzhauer has announced plans to run for DuPage County Board next year. Holzhauer made the announcement on his personal Facebook page Sunday night just hours after being sworn in for another four years on the council. 'The number one duty of candidates and elected officials is to be candid with voters,' his post read. 'Many have asked about my future intentions. Rather than be cagey, I will be straightforward: I will be running for DuPage County Board in District 5 in the midterm election.' Holzhauer did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. His announcement comes just over a month after the April 1 consolidated election, where he emerged as the third-highest vote getter in the eight-way race for the council. Holzhauer was reelected alongside fellow incumbent Benny White and newcomers Ashfaq Syed and Mary Gibson. All four were inaugurated Sunday afternoon. The first meeting of the new council was set for Tuesday night. In his post-inauguration message on Facebook, Holzhauer wrote, 'I'm proud of the work I've done on council over the past four years,' adding that he's 'excited to continue advancing these priorities over the next two years.' He then went on to write that as a county board member, he 'will focus on expanding countywide mental health initiatives, driving economic development, and upholding the principles of good governance.' There are three District 5 seats on the 18-member county board. Currently, they are held by Sadia Covert, Dawn DeSart and Saba Haider. Covert and DeSart's terms are up in 2026. Haider was elected to the board last fall after unseating former Naperville City Council member Patty Gustin. Holzhauer was first elected to council in 2021. In response to Holzhauer's bid for county board, DuPage County Republicans called the move 'absolutely ridiculous.' 'Not even 24 hours after being sworn in as a Naperville City Councilman, Ian Holzhauer announces a campaign for another office,' DuPage GOP wrote on Facebook Tuesday. 'Wouldn't the transparent and 'not cagey' thing to do … have been to have told the voters he was running for another office before they voted him in for another term as their councilman? There's a reason many people do not trust politicians. This is a good example as to why.'
Chicago Tribune
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: Attacking candidates on military benefits is ‘disgraceful'; ending ex-park board member benefits saves ‘miniscule' amount
Editor's note: Because of the volume of letters submitted to the Naperville Sun in advance of the Naperville City Council election on April 1, we are running these in the Wednesday paper in an effort to publish as many as possible. Attacking candidates on military benefits is 'disgraceful' On March 19, Safe Suburbs USA PAC posted an article on Facebook targeting my Naperville City Council colleague, Ian Holzhauer, a man who served this country with honor as a U.S. Air Force JAG law officer. The continued efforts to disparage him are disheartening. These attacks are not about policy differences. They are fueled by partisan agendas, misleading narratives and a desire to undermine those who choose to lead with principle rather than play political games. As a graduate of West Point, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a longtime Naperville resident, I've dedicated my life to serving both this country and this community. During my campaign for mayor, and now as I run for reelection, I've experienced these attacks firsthand. My character has been repeatedly called into question. One of the most baseless accusations involved my eligibility at the time for the Illinois Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption, an earned, state-approved benefit granted to veterans with service-connected conditions, as determined by the Veterans Administration. Though I addressed these falsehoods during that campaign, the same bad actors continue to exploit this issue. So once again, let me set the record straight. Neither Ian Holzhauer nor I owe an explanation to those who have decided they are the arbiters of which veterans deserve respect. Yet here we are, watching individuals who have never walked in our boots or made those sacrifices brazenly question who is worthy and who is not. That's not respect. That's hypocrisy. Scrutinizing a veteran's service for political convenience isn't just wrong, it's disgraceful. My four years at West Point and 22 years of military service speak for themselves. I trained hard. I worked hard. I served. I led. And like every service member, I was prepared to give my life for this country. For the record, I didn't serve this nation conditionally. I didn't wear the uniform seeking partisan accolades or political approval. I served to protect the freedoms of all Americans, those who support me and those who don't. And despite these continued attacks, I would make the same decision again today. At a time when division is being weaponized for political gain, I stand firm in my values and I ask Naperville residents to do the same. We are better than this. I'm proud of my service to this nation, just as I'm proud of my service to this community. And I'm grateful to Ian for his service. No smear campaign or political gamesmanship will ever change that. Benjamin 'Benny' White, Naperville Naperville City Councilman Ending ex-park board member benefits saves 'miniscule' amount I noted with some interest the article in the March 19 Naperville Sun stating that past Naperville Park Board commissioners will no longer receive park district discounts or benefits. As a former board member and a nonswimmer and nongolfer, it has no effect on me. I use my Silver Sneaker's card for the Fort Hill Fitness Center. What concerns me is that park board President Mary Gibson has so little respect for what we former board commissioners have done. I favor Commissioner Rich Janor's proposal to abolish the entire program for past and present commissioners. The amount of money Ms. Gibson is trying to save is minuscule. It does not appear on any expense line. Commissioner Alison Thompson's complaint about not being able to afford the programs without the discount is ridiculous. I am sure the manager of Fort Hill would be glad to give her a tour of the facility and show her what is available. She can take a tour of the golf courses to see what they have to offer. I am surprised she was able to afford campaign signs. I note that on her Nashville trip she spent more money than three other commissioners who attended. How many ideas did she bring back from Nashville and apply to our park district? How much return on investment did we get for the $7,800 spent on the trip? I only hope that President Gibson is sincere about saving money and not using it as a way to get her name in the papers and as a springboard to a Naperville City Council seat. I have my doubts. She could have used Commissioner Janor's example and paid for her own hotel and airfare. Those two expenses would cover the expenses of the previous commissioners. Thank you, President Gibson, for making my voting for city council easy. Enjoy your tenure at the park district. Charles Brown, Naperville McDaniel chooses political ambitions over meetings attendance As Naperville voters consider who deserves a seat on the Naperville City Council, they should take a hard look at candidate Derek McDaniel's recent actions. McDaniel, a current commissioner on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, has repeatedly emphasized his experience in that role as a key qualification for higher office. Yet when it came time to fulfill his actual duties, he chose to skip two of three recent commission meetings in favor of holding campaign fundraisers. This isn't just a scheduling conflict — it's a clear demonstration of McDaniel's priorities. Rather than doing the work of the city he claims to want to serve, he put his personal political ambitions first. That's not leadership; it's self-interest. Naperville deserves elected officials who show up and do the job, not ones who treat public service as a stepping stone. If McDaniel is already neglecting his responsibilities before even being elected, how can we trust him to put the people of Naperville first once he's in office? This pattern of behavior should be disqualifying for any voter who values accountability, commitment and integrity in their city leaders. Naperville can do better. Rebecca Gamboa, Naperville Bansal's record as elected official shows she's 'not just talk' Naperville residents, please consider voting for Meghna Bansal for Naperville City Council. Bansal's record shows she's not just talk. She served admirably as a Wheatland Township Board trustee. She has been deeply involved in community organizations for many years. She always demonstrates her ability to listen and act. Bansal advocates for public safety, proposing specialized units to address rising concerns like cybercrime, while also pushing for mental health resources. Her focus on infrastructure and sustainability aligns with Naperville's need for forward-thinking leadership. Bansal's campaign reflects inclusivity, aiming to represent Naperville's diverse voices. Her near-win in 2023, losing by just 41 votes, shows strong community support and resilience. Residents should vote for Bansal because she combines practical expertise with a genuine passion for Naperville's future. Electing Meghna Bansal, along with Derek McDaniel, and reelecting Councilwoman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor will ensure that Naperville remains a vibrant, safe and thriving community for all. Cathy Carmichael, Naperville Choose environmental leaders for our next elected council I am an environmental scientist and resident of Naperville. The rollback of regulations that keep our air healthy to breathe and our water safe to drink should concern all of us. Gutting the Environmental Protection Agency and dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the agencies that help us understand and combat climate change, will leave us unprepared to face the challenges of today and the future. What is happening at the federal level is frankly frightening to anyone who understands the intergenerational contract to leave a livable future for our kids and grandkids. We are not powerless, however. The first thing we need to do is to commit to voting in Naperville City Council election on or before April 1. Naperville has consequential decisions coming that could put us on a better path to a more sustainable, resilient future. These four candidates can deliver: Mary Gibson has led the Naperville Park Board with distinction and with bipartisan respect. She knows Naperville has not lived up to its commitments to sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction and is the right person to change the culture of denial and delay. She will ensure that Naperville sets environmentally and fiscally responsible targets and critically will hold city staff and council accountable for making progress. Ashfaq Syed does not just talk about sustainability, he participates in building a more sustainable community. He has been involved with raising awareness about Naperville's coal problem well before Naperville's 80% coal contractor, IMEA, proposed a contract extension. His community organizing skills will be critical as Naperville makes big decisions about whether we want to be a forward-looking community or one stuck with the status quo. Incumbent Benny White understands that climate justice is social justice, that environmental protection also protects people and that sustainability is intersectional. He can connect challenges we face due to the climate crisis with other challenges, like lack of affordable housing and protecting the most vulnerable Naperville residents. Fellow incumbent Ian Holzhauer is clear-eyed with respect to why we should be skeptical of promises made by IMEA. He's seen them over-promise and under-deliver in the past and knows that Naperville does not want another 20 years of no choice but to accept the burning of coal. I'm confident he'll stand firm for charting a more sustainable energy path for Naperville. Please join me in supporting these environmental leaders. Catherine Clarkin, Naperville
Chicago Tribune
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: Holzhauer's positive actions stand out on divisive council; Mendrick wrong on almost every point in gubernatorial bid
Holzhauer's positive actions stand out on divisive council 'Public debate,' 'fight' and 'heated' are some of the words used in the last two years to describe Naperville City Council meetings. They have become openly partisan and divisive in the last two years, lacking the cooperation and good governance goals of previous councils that resulted in many accolades being bestowed upon Naperville. Council member Ian Holzhauer has been the target of some of the partisan attacks, yet he has managed to rise above the political fray and even defend fellow council members also singled out on the dais. Holzhauer has deep connections to Naperville, as a resident and public servant, and it shows in his consistent efforts to support such things as housing for disabled adults, increased funding for mental health for our police and firefighters, and the planned extension of the Riverwalk to Edward Hospital. And who can forget his support of the LGBTQ+ community when members of this same council singled out NaperPride and wanted to eliminate their SECA funding? His pushback resulted in their regaining funding for their event at Naper Settlement. He also recently used his knowledge as a contract lawyer in the discussion regarding the early contract renewal requested by the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, offering some cogent reasons as to why the city should be wary of their request. Local bodies of government are likely to feel the effects of the turmoil in Washington, D.C., in the coming years before the next election, and Naperville will benefit from having council members like Ian Holzhauer dedicated to serving Naperville and working with his colleagues towards a common goal. We also recommend fellow incumbent Councilman Benny White and newcomers Mary Gibson and Ashfaq Syed to voters as candidates who believe in cooperation, instead of the sniping and partisan stunts we have seen from the present council. Steve and Nancy Turner, Naperville Mendrick wrong on almost every point in gubernatorial bid I read with skepticism the March 2 article regarding DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick's run for governor. His first problem is the city of Chicago, which he says, based on everyone he's asked, should be run more like DuPage County. Obviously he didn't get outside of his own circle with that question. Next he disparages the state's SAFE-T Act, which eliminates cash bail for nonviolent offenders. His jail would be pretty full and taxpayers would be paying a lot more money if criminals like shoplifters were kept in jail just because they couldn't make bail. Then he moves on to the sanctuary laws barring local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. This is clearly a stab at people of color. They don't look like you so you don't want them here. Next, he was among several county sheriffs who said they would not enforce provisions of the state's ban on certain high-powered, semiautomatic weapons while also saying he will make our state safe again. How are we supposed to be safe when anyone can own a high-powered, semiautomatic weapon? Next he's on to taking away freedoms. 'Your entire way of life is changing,' he says. Does he mean my freedom to go to a movie or the mall without fear of being mowed down because he doesn't want to enforce the state's gun laws? Or does he mean the freedom of white men to run the show and no one else counts? And then there was the zinger I knew was coming: God. Democrats have taken God out of society. 'I'm a strong believer in God. I believe that's how I get to where I go,' he said. No arrogance there. Democrats, who want equal rights and freedoms for all, safety for all and the ability to live without the fear of being shot? Who want to protect the freedom to love who you want, have a family when you want, live where you want? Democrats took God out of society? Democrats are the party that wants all people treated as human beings. Yes, our entire way of life is changing and under Republican ideology, not for the better. The citizens of this county and this country need to work toward leaving a better world for our children and grandchildren. That picture should include welcoming everyone to our society, banning weapons that eliminate dozens of people in seconds and not electing arrogant men who think God has called them to do exactly the opposite of what God has told everyone to do. Brenda McDowell, Naperville Council candidates need to say how they'll achieve change The several candidates for Naperville City Council all sound alike. They seem to want what they perceive we the voters want. How do we tell the difference? They need to tell us how they plan on achieving these goals. That would be something of substance to help us decide. Dave Parta, Naperville Proposed massive EPA cuts endanger environment, health President Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced at the recent cabinet meeting that they plan to cut EPA staffing and budget up to 65%. Hundreds of EPA staff have already been terminated. The EPA has a permanent staff of about 15,000. A cut of 65% would reduce the staffing to the level the agency had when it was created in 1970 — about 5,000. That would in effect almost eliminate what EPA is all about, protecting the environment and public health. In an op-ed in The New York Times, three former EPA administrators reported that 'between 1970 and 2019 EPA cut emissions of common air pollutants by 77 percent while private sector jobs grew 223 percent and our gross domestic product grew almost 300 percent.' In addition, thousands of toxic contaminated sites have been cleaned up; water pollution has been greatly reduced, making most streams 'fishable and swimmable' throughout the country; and safe drinking water was achieved throughout the country. Multiple studies have shown that the health benefits of work done by EPA outweigh the costs by more than 30 to 1. Such large spending and staffing cuts as being proposed would eliminate such things as monitoring air and water quality, responding to natural disasters and lead abatement in our water supply, among many other agency functions. Critical to Naperville citizens, there have been truly major actions taken by EPA to protect the waters of the Great Lakes, the source of our drinking water. Naperville has received millions of dollars in grant money from EPA to improve our wastewater treatment plant and to improve our infrastructure for water supply. The draconian and reckless cuts to EPA, an effective agency with a record of huge successes, are unwise and extremely shortsighted. It is up to Congress to ensure the EPA has the resources to do its job. Weakening environmental protections isn't just bad policy, it's a direct threat to public health and future generations. Every citizen should protest these planned cuts by contacting their elected representatives to stop this insanity. Dale Bryson, Naperville McBroom's revisionist history bolsters Gibson's candidacy Regarding Naperville City Councilman Josh McBroom's recent column about city council candidates (Naperville Sun, Feb. 24), anyone who follows the council and park board knows his revisionist history regarding the ethics inquiry against him stems from his violation of Naperville Park Board policy by condemning a board action, undermining the executive director and staff's ability to do their job, and from posting a smiley emoji in response to a Facebook comment body-shaming women. Although park district counsel found that he violated board policy, counsel felt it didn't warrant censure since Mr. McBroom 'learned his lesson.' He apologized to then-park district Executive Director Ray McGury and staff. Why is he now playing the victim? Perhaps remembering this brush with censure, he voted to revoke city council's ethics ordinance. He also caused Naperville to be negatively portrayed nationally by exploiting the difficulties of undocumented people finding shelter. Why? To 'show the hypocrisy of progressives.' Do we want council members who persist in creating controversy and sowing conflict among fellow council members, or are we better served by council and park district members who are committed to working collaboratively and constructively for Naperville residents? A candidate for city council who will do that is Mary Gibson. Her tenure on the park board has been exemplary. She developed and implemented the current three-year strategic plan, stretching the budget while championing inclusive and accessible park and facility designs, and expanding programs and partnerships to reflect the rich diversity of our community. These successes led to her being awarded master board member status from the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Elected unanimously as board president three times by her fellow commissioners, even Mr. McBroom voted for her when he was on the board. She is running a grassroots campaign, unlike Derek McDaniel and Meghna Bansal, who have both received $20,000 from a business PAC. Mary will represent Naperville residents and will bring her effective collaborative style to Naperville City Council. I'm looking forward to it.
