Challenge filed against candidate for Naperville mayor

Dec. 02--The eligibility of a candidate for Naperville mayor is being formally challenged by a member of the City Council.

Councilman Bob Fieseler filed paperwork Monday objecting to the candidacy of Matthew Dubiel, saying that he does not meet the residency requirement because he lives in an unincorporated area.

"It would be like me running for mayor of Downers Grove," Fieseler said. "You can't just run for office or be elected for office where you are not a resident or taxpayer. It's just unimaginable to me."

Dubiel, general manager and owner of AM 1530 WCKG, is one of five people who filed paperwork to replace Mayor George Pradel, who is not running for a sixth term. Having more than four candidates triggers a primary on Feb. 24. Fieseler said it would be an "awful waste of resources" to hold a primary when one candidate isn't eligible.

Dubiel who could not immediately be reached Monday, said in a recent interview with the Tribune that while he does live in an unincorporated area, he believes he is eligible to run for mayor.

Other mayoral candidates include current Councilman Doug Krause, a real estate broker; Councilman Steve Chirico, owner of Great Western Flooring; Jim Haselhorst, a dental office manager; and Marty Walker, a retired Carol Stream firefighter.

Fieseler said he is not publicly endorsing any of the candidates or working on their campaigns.

"I have not done this at the behest of any candidate or with any candidate advantage in mind," he said.

He also is not running for re-election himself. There will 20 people on the April 7 ballot for council seats, barring any successful challenges to those positions.

Fieseler's challenge was the only one that had been filed as of Monday afternoon, according to city officials. The deadline to file objections is Dec. 3. They will be ruled upon by the city's Electoral Board.