Interview with a candidate: Patrick Kelly

Patrick Kelly is a first time candidate for Naperville city council. He says he’s attended city council meetings and been involved in the community since he moved to Naperville and was selected by his neighborhood to represent them on the steering committee for the Fifth Avenue development.

Kelly is a lawyer by trade and explains that he has worked with environmental law and civil litigation — which involves local and state governments. He currently owns his own small firm, for which he handles “small business and real estate matters,” and says it gives him experience in finances and decision making. He says that being on the steering community has “given [him] pretty good experience on how the city handles a major development.”

He believes that “responsible development,” is important and that Naperville needs “to work with residents to make sure that some of the major developments that are in the works are going to benefit the city and the immediate neighborhoods that they’re surrounding.” He also supports environmental sustainability and wants to “use renewable energy where [the city] can and working with residents on renewable energy grants.” He explains that the city does have money for renewable energy and it is a matter of determining how best to employ it. He also hopes to ensure “fiscal responsibility,” to make sure Naperville is “healthy financially long-term.”

Kelly says the most important thing a city council member can do is “be thoughtful and, at the same time, open to listening to a number of different people.” He explains that they “need to be respectful of different viewpoints … and take the time to get to know the issues.”

If voters want to learn more about Kelly, he says that can go to his campaign website, https://kellyfornaperville.com/, or his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kellyfornaperville/, both of which have more information.