13 Hope to Fill St. Charles 3rd Ward Vacancy

More than a dozen people have signed up as candidates to fill the St. Charles City Council Ward 3 aldermanic vacancy created when Raymond Rogina was sworn in as mayor earlier this month.

Rogina, who won the April 9 consolidated election, was sworn in as mayor on May 6, leaving his aldermanic seat empty. On Monday night, Rogina said the city had received an array of applicants for his former seat, and that a subcommittee will be reviewing those names. He said he hopes to have finalist nominees in for an interview with the full City Council by June 10 with the goal of having that person sworn in by June 17.

Rogina is heading the subcommittee with 1st Ward Alderman Dan Stellato, 3rd Ward Alderman William Turner, and City Administrator Brian Townsend. They will review candidate credentials and select three finalists.

“It is a terrific testament to our community that so many candidates have come forward to serve in our local government in this capacity,” Rogina said in a release issued Tuesday. “At the conclusion of the process, the 3rd Ward will be well-represented by one of the candidates.”

The candidates include:

• Charles A. Amenta II, a six-year resident who is a financial representative at Northwestern Mutual and serves on the Reneaux Manor Homeowners Association Board.
• St. Charles native and 15-year 3rd Ward resident Todd A. Bancroft, who works for Draper and Kramer Incorporated as chief administrative officer, senior vice president and general counsel.
• Douglas W. Eden, a resident of six years who volunteers at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Previously he was director of security, sales and marketing for Perfect Plastic Printing in St. Charles.
• 23-year resident Robert Gehm has more than 30 years of business experience in accounting, finance, and project management. He has served/volunteered with several local organizations.
• St. Charles native Curt Henningson, who has lived in St. Charles for the past five years, has a real estate firm in St. Charles and provides brokerage and consulting services to builders, developers, and lenders. He also serves on the city’s plan and housing commissions.
• L. Michael Henriksen, a 15-year resident of St. Charles with more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, and national director of a Fortune 500 company. The former president of Kingswood Homeowners Association, Henriksen was a candidate for 3rd Ward alderman in 2011.
• Dianne E. Kellett, an 11-year St. Charles resident, volunteers for the St. Charles Mothers Club and as a Lincoln School Very Important Parent. She is an owner of Think Driven Inc., auto care facility and Pick a Do Inc. bookkeeping and errand service.
• 27-year resident Robert Kling has worked in both public and private education. He teaches at Bartlett High School. He also was vice president of a family-owned home construction company and a partner in the venture that opened the restaurant 18 North on North 3rd Street in downtown St. Charles.
• Brian LaVolpe, a licensed journeyman plumber/contractor with 21 years of experience, is an owner/operator of Plumb-Crazy Plumbing in St. Charles.
• Ellie McLoone, a 19-year resident, owns Treasure Broker LLC, a retail vintage and antique furniture shop in downtown St. Charles. She serves as a president of the Wild Wood Homeowners Association and as a member of the St. Charles Moose and Downtown St. Charles Partnership.
• Laurie Milbourn has lived in the Tri-Cities area since 1965 and most recently has resided in St. Charles for 13 years. The founder and director of Going to My Happy Place Yoga Studio, she serves on the Kiwanis Board of Directors. She also has held board and volunteer positions with several other local organizations, including the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, River Corridor Foundation, and Downtown St. Charles Partnership.
• Lifelong resident Mario VanDerHeyden works as an inbound transportation manager at Medline Industries Inc., and was a candidate for the office of 3rd Ward alderman in 2013.
• Carolyn M.W. Waibel 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, she most recently was employed as a sales consultant at Paychex Inc.

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