Longtime Elmhurst Official Resigns After Moving: City

ELMHURST, IL — When Ward 2 Alderman Norman Leader was counted as absent at Tuesday's City Council meeting, that was not unusual. He has missed more than half of this year's meetings, including the last three.

What was different was a statement read by Mayor Steve Morley that he said was written by Leader, who has served on the council for 16 years. In the statement, Leader, a former teacher, waxed philosophical about government and life in general. It was a resignation letter that avoided the word "resign." His term was set to expire next spring.

"I am at the top of the last rise looking down that road running long and straight to that magical place where the land meets the water," Leader said in the statement.

Leader, who is in his 80s, said "a funny thing happened to me on my road to a fifth term."

"I've suddenly come face to face with that margin of mystery where all of our careful calculations collapse, for the experience of being an Elmhurst alderman has seemed to become a life's possession. Leaving public office after 16 years is to die a little," Leader said.

The mayor told the council that it was with "sadness and regret" that he accepted Leader's resignation. He said Leader and his wife, Leslie, have moved. But Morley did not say where the alderman has moved or whether it was to a "magical place where the land meets the water."

Morley acknowledged Leader's announcement may be a surprise to some aldermen. He said he hoped the council could express its sentiments about Leader at a later meeting.

"I'm not sure we can talk him back into coming, but we're going to try," Morley said.

In his statement, Leader encouraged residents to treat the Elmhurst city government as theirs.

"Don't treat it as an impersonal thing. Don't treat it as something to sneer at," he said. "I don't care how much you criticize it or to which faction you belong, just remember that this city of Elmhurst belongs to you and needs you. It takes brains and skill to run it."

In the spring, Leader missed a few meetings after the pandemic started, even though the City Council met remotely. At the time, a city spokeswoman said Leader remained "actively engaged" with the city, but had been unable to connect virtually to public meetings because of technical issues.

The mayor said the position would be filled in the normal way, with the city seeking applications and then holding interviews. Leader's Ward 2 is on Elmhurst's northwest side and includes Berens Park and Emerson School.

Leader is the third aldermen of the 14-member council to resign since the pandemic began.

At an early May meeting, Morley announced the resignations of Ward 4 Alderman Kevin York and Ward 1 Alderman Mark Sabatino. York, who had already left a few days before, cited a "personal situation where he took necessary steps," the mayor said.

Sabatino, who was connected to the meeting remotely, said he was leaving Elmhurst for work in Nashville.