West Cook News

At its May 1 City Council meeting, the City of Elmhurst celebrated the appointment of its new council members.

Elmhurst officials welcomed new and returning council members based on the results of their April election. Elmhurst has 14 total aldermen, two from each of their seven wards.

They are set on an alternating four-year cycle, so every two years one seat from each ward is up for election. The next City Council election will be held in 2025, when Aldermen Marti Dueter, Jacob Hill, Christopher Jensen, Brian Cahill, Tina Park, Emily Bastedo and Mike Brennan (Wards 1-7, respectively) will come to the end of their terms.

"I want to welcome all of the newly sworn-in aldermen, those who are returning," Mayor Scott Levin said. "I'm looking forward to two very productive years. I think for the new aldermen who've never served, you’ll find it to be a very rewarding experience. We’ve always worked as a team and I believe we will continue to do that, and rely on your fellow aldermen and me, and we're down to business."

During the swearing-in ceremony, Levin and council members welcomed three incumbent members, three brand-new members and one familiar face who hasn’t been around recently; a recent Patch report said. Ward 1’s Jennifer Veremis defeated her two opponents in the race, while Ward 4’s Noel Talluto and Ward 5’s James Nudera ran unopposed to regain their seats. Ward 3 saw the election of Michael Bram, who had previously held the position for two decades but had to take a break from the council when he lost the mayoral election in 2021. Wards 2, 6 and 7 saw newcomers Karen Sienko, Guido Nardini and Rex Irby, respectively, winning seats in the April election.

All the officials were joined by their families and friends during the administration of their oaths, although Bram was joined by a group of supporters who answered his Facebook request to be present at his swearing in. He introduced them all by saying, “These are all my dear friends that are just like family for me.”

The ceremony also had some pomp, with the Police and Fire Departments presenting a color guard for the occasion before the mayor led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.