Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski has selected his nominee to fill a vacant City Council seat.
Golinski has recommended Autumn Creek resident and real estate broker Jason Peterson to fill the vacant 4th Ward post.
The position has been open since Alejandro “Alex” Hernandez stepped down from the City Council Aug. 28 because he had accepted a job in Des Moines, Iowa. He was elected to the post in April 2017.
Aldermen will consider the mayor’s recommendation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Hernandez was one of three elected officials in Yorkville employed at Fermilab in Batavia. Golinski works at Fermilab, as does Ald. Ken Koch, 1st Ward.
Golinski had indicated that he wanted to appoint someone to serve as a replacement that lived in the Autumn Creek subdivision, the same area of the city that Hernandez was from.
Peterson in his application to the mayor touted his experience both in real estate and his role as president of the Autumn Creek Home Owners Association that represents some 500 homes in the subdivision.
“I have worked diligently at creating a beautiful and safe neighborhood,” Peterson wrote. “I have moderated meetings with crowds large and small regarding topics both mild and controversial. I learned a great deal about what homeowners care about and the forums they choose to voice their concerns. I believe all of those things are vital in an alderman.”
Peterson said his work as a real estate broker for the past 12 years has given him knowledge of the housing market and property values in Yorkville.
He said that he has also volunteered for the Autumn Creek Elementary Parent Teacher Organization.
“Having grown up in the area, I would like to be more closely involved in my community … I would like to have a larger impact on the Yorkville community,” he wrote.
Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett said the person appointed to the post will serve through the end of April 2019.
Municipal elections in 2019 are on April 2. At that time, both City Council seats in the 4th Ward will be up for election, Willrett said.
