8 Candidates File For Elmhurst Council Election

ELMHURST, IL – Eight Elmhurst residents submitted their paperwork as of late Tuesday afternoon to run for the City Council.

Monday was the first day to file for the April election. Candidates have until next Monday.

The council is made up of 14 members, two for each of the city's seven wards.

One seat is up for election in each ward.

Here's who has filed as of Monday:

• Ward 1: Jennifer Veremis (incumbent), Rhian Fazzini and Engy Sutherland
• Ward 2: None
• Ward 3: Michael Bram
• Ward 4: Noel Talluto (incumbent)
• Ward 5: James Nudera (incumbent)
• Ward 6: Guido Nardini
• Ward 7: Rex Irby

In Ward 1, businesswoman Veremis has served on the council since 2020, appointed by then-Mayor Steve Morley. She was elected in her own right the next year.

In an interview Tuesday, Fazzini, a York High School graduate who is studying political science at the College of DuPage, said he was concerned about taxes and downtown parking.

"Parking downtown is such a mess with all the construction going on," said Fazzini, who labels himself a libertarian Republican on Facebook. "I would support getting rid of as many taxes as possible. My other focus is homeowner autonomy. You shouldn't need city permission to make improvements on your home or property."

Sutherland works at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as a senior actuary and managing director.

"I am running to be a fully present, transparent, and accessible alderman who responds to constituents' needs and concerns whenever they arise," she said in an email to Patch. "I plan to take my actuarial background to provide a fiscally healthy view of our city budget and taxes that ensures Elmhurst is a livable and inclusive town for all residents in every stage of their life. My professional background, broad community engagement, and ability and desire to meet people wherever they are makes me the ideal candidate for Ward 1 Alderman in the City of Elmhurst."

In Ward 2, Alderman Bob Dunn's seat is up in the election. He has not publicly indicated whether he is running again.

In Ward 3, Alderman Michael Bram is seeking the seat held by Dannee Polomsky, who decided against running for a fourth term. Bram served as a Ward 3 alderman for two decades until 2021. Patch wrote a story about Bram's candidacy when he announced it in early November.

In Ward 4, Talluto prevailed with nearly two-thirds of the vote in 2019.

In Ward 5, Nudera is the lone candidate. A retired teacher and high school coach, he was appointed to fill Mayor Scott Levin's seat in 2021.

In Ward 6, Alderman Mike Honquest decided against running again after a decade. Nardini, the lone candidate so far, spoke up during school board meetings in 2021 in favor of masks and defended teachers against conservative critics. Patch left a message for comment through Nardini's Facebook page.

In Ward 7, Alderman Mark Mulliner, the longest-serving alderman, has yet to file paperwork. Irby's Facebook page lists him as the vice president of International Solar Services and the former owner of Computer Guy. He went to high school and college in Texas. Patch left a message for comment through his Facebook page.