Elmhurst Alderman Mulls Mayoral Run

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst Alderman Michael Bram, who is the lone dissenting vote on the City Council at times, is considering whether to run for mayor after serving for two decades in his position.

Late last week, Bram, who represents the northeastern Ward 3, announced on Facebook that he was mulling running for mayor in April.

Bram would be the third alderman in the race, with Ward 7's Mark Mulliner and Ward 5's Scott Levin already announcing their bids. Mayor Steve Morley has been reported as not seeking a third term, though he has not returned messages for comment.

Bram, a plant engineering supervisor for UPS, has been an alderman since 2001. In his Facebook post, he said he was seeking help for his bid.

"I take this decision seriously, so much so that I decided to take it to the next step by getting signatures for my petition for mayor," Bram said in the Facebook post.

Bram has been seen as independent-minded, one who has gone against the current. Every council meeting, aldermen approve extensions of the mayor's emergency powers during the pandemic. While Bram supported such authority at first, he has been a repeated vote against such powers ever since, saying changes to city laws can go through the ordinary process.

In Elmhurst, mayoral elections are nonpartisan. The state Board of Elections database has no listings for any contributions from Bram to other candidates. Mulliner gave $125 to former Mayor Tom Marcucci's campaign 20 years ago, while the records show that Levin donates to Republican campaigns.

Bram keeps an active aldermanic Facebook page and holds Facebook live sessions from time to time, where constituents can send him questions.

In response to Bram's announcement on a possible mayoral run, many responded positively.

"I think you have been a great alderman," a woman wrote. "Your leadership with flooding issues has made a huge impact in our neighborhood."

Bram also has received praise from DuPage County citizen watchdog Edgar Pal, who has questioned city government and filed a successful challenge to a city decision to keep records secret.

In a 2019 blog post, Pal said Elmhurst's greatness can be found in a number of places other than its politicians. But he said a few public officials, such as Bram and former Alderwoman Paula Pezza, show greatness. They "go out of their way to help residents when others do not," Pal said.

According to Bram's LinkedIn page, he has been a broker with LW Reedy Real Estate since 2005. He also worked at Motorola for 15 years, leaving as a senior project manager.

Bram received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1994 from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Bram's council term ends next spring, so if he runs for mayor, he would give up his seat. The terms for Mulliner and Levin expire in 2023.