This Q&A is a part of Central Times’ 2025 city council election coverage. To see interviews with all candidates in the race, click here. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What inspired you to run for Naperville City Council?
So, I’ve lived in Naperville since I was four. It’s an unbelievable community — I even went to Safety Town as a little kid. It’s such a great place to grow up, to live, and to be safe. When you graduate from high school, go to college, maybe work someplace else for a little while, you realize how amazing it really is, and then you come back. That’s exactly what my wife and I did. Now we have three kids, and you find yourself in a position where you really want to give back and serve the community that gave you and your family so much. That’s really why I’m doing it — to serve Naperville because Naperville has given me and countless others so much in their whole lives.
Can you tell us about your personal and professional background and how it prepares you for this role?
I went to Purdue for my undergraduate degree, then to DePaul University, where I earned a master’s in corporate finance. Professionally, I work as a financial advisor, so I have a great deal of knowledge when it comes to budgeting, planning, and making fiscally responsible decisions.
In addition to that, my involvement in the community is what really sets me apart. I’ve served on the board for Naper Settlement, the board of directors for NCTV17, and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. I’m also on a board called Naperville CAPS, which is a police and fire board here in town. Being involved in these different boards and organizations gives you a great understanding of how the city operates and what’s important to the community.
Having lived here since you were four, what do you love most about Naperville?
When you’re younger, it’s all about the activities — Park District soccer, Park District baseball, which almost every kid in Naperville plays. But when you get older, you come to appreciate other things. You realize how incredible the schools are, which is one of the things that truly separates Naperville from other communities.
Naperville also has a great downtown business community and is an incredibly safe place to live, thanks to our police officers. Safety and education are two major reasons why people want to move here.
What life experiences have shaped your perspective on local government and public service?
Growing up in Naperville has given me a unique perspective on why this community is so great. I moved here in 1984 — before the Bears won the Super Bowl — and I’ve seen all the growth that’s happened since. But with that growth come challenges.
Naperville is facing new challenges because we’re no longer a growing community — we’re an aging one. That means we have to make sure we continue investing in infrastructure, like roads and bridges, and plan for the future.
What unique skills or insights would you bring to the City Council?
My master’s degree in corporate finance and my professional experience as a financial advisor give me strong budgeting and financial planning skills. But beyond that, my community involvement has given me direct experience with the inner workings of Naperville.
Serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission has been especially valuable. It’s an appointed position by the mayor, and it provides a deep understanding of the development process and zoning code requirements. That experience prepares you well for a role on City Council.
You’ve talked about the importance of diversifying Naperville’s tax base, maintaining public safety and reimagining the city’s energy future. Of these, is there one issue you’re emphasizing most in your campaign?
There are a number of important issues, but one of the biggest decisions coming up is the IMEA energy contract. Within the next eight to 12 months, Naperville will decide where and how it sources its energy.
This is critical for several reasons. First, we need to keep energy costs as low as possible for residents, because affordability is important. Second, we need to keep costs low for businesses — Naperville has the second-largest economy in Illinois, and if energy costs rise, businesses may look elsewhere.
We also need to ensure we have a reliable energy source. The contract we currently have is restrictive — it doesn’t allow us to take advantage of new technology, like peak shaving or battery storage. That’s a problem. While we need to transition to more renewable sources, we also have to do it in a responsible way that doesn’t drive up costs for residents or businesses.