Interview with a candidate: Joe McElroy

Joe McElroy is one of the eleven candidates running for Naperville city council. He got his start in local government as a city planner. He has been a member of Naperville’s Planning and Zoning Commission and previously served one term on the city council.

Although McElroy is now semi-retired, he made his career in city planning and communications, which he believes provides him with important experience to be a member of the city council.

McElroy says he, “would like to work more on neighborhoods.” He explained that he does not believe Naperville has any “bad neighborhoods,” but that some of the neighborhoods, “could use some attention.” He feels the city has “taken its neighborhoods for granted,” and that more effort should be put into maintaining and preserving them in order to ensure that Naperville remains a good community for residents. He believes “the quality of life in Naperville is very good,” and explains that he wants “to help keep it that way.”

He believes the most important part of being a city council member is “having the political courage to make unpopular votes.” He explains that the decision the most people want made is not always the right one and believes, “you have to do what’s right, even if you make people mad.”

McElroy says that voters who have questions or want to find out more about him can visit his campaign website, https://www.joefornaperville.com/.