Politics & Government

Task Force Advances Four Finalists for St. Charles Ward 3 Seat

The St. Charles City Council will meet behind closed doors this evening to interview the four finalists vetted by a mayor’s task force to fill the 3rd Ward seat that was left vacant when Raymond Rogina was sworn in as mayor last month.


Noticebly missing from the list is the only person who actually ran for the 3rd Ward seat at stake in the April 9 consolidated election.


The task force has been interviewing the 13 applicants who want to serve for the remaining two years that Rogina had as 3rd Ward alderman before he was elected mayor in April and took office nearly a month later.

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Members of the task force are Mayor Rogina, 1st Ward Alderman Dan Stellato, 3rd Ward Alderman William Turner, and City Administrator Brian Townsend. According to a release from the city, the four interviewed all 13 candidates and selected four to participate in a group interview during an executive session at 5 this evening.


The four finalists are:

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  • Charles A. Amenta II, a St. Charles resident for six years who is a financial representative at Northwestern Mutual and serves on the Reneaux Manor Homeowners Association Board.

  • Todd A. Bancroft grew up in St. Charles and has been a 3rd Ward resident for 15 years. He works for Draper and Kramer Incorporated as chief administrative officer, senior vice president and general counsel.

  • Dianne E. Kellett, an 11-year resident, volunteers for the St. Charles Mothers Club and as a Lincoln School Very Important Parent. Kellett is an owner of Think Driven Inc., auto care facility and Pick a Do Inc. bookkeeping and errand service.         

  • Carolyn M. W. Waibel, who first moved to St. Charles in 1978 and has lived in St. Charles for four years. Active in the Parent Teacher Organizations for Ferson Creek and Lincoln elementary schools, Waibel most recently worked at Paychex Inc. as a sales consultant.


  • Interestingly, Mario J. VanDerHeyden, who opposed 3rd Ward Alderman William Turner’s re-election bid on April 9, was weeded out of the process last week and did not make the final cut. At the time, VanDerHeyden expressed dismay about being cut.


    According to the city’s release, each candidate will be interviewed for about 25 minutes. After the interviews are completed, the mayor and City Council will discuss the candidates and attempt to reach a consensus on the best candidate, according to the release.


    The final candidate is expected to be seated before the City Council meeting on Monday, June 17.

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