St. Charles' DeWitte Looks Back Over 20 Years on His Last Day as Mayor

Leadership comes at a price, often in the form of detractors, but Don DeWitte takes in stride the criticism he’s received over the years for his support of sometimes controversial proposals.

In recent years, he’s been targeted for his support of the nearly complete Red Gate Bridge, for casting the deciding vote on the Lexington Club proposal, and for backing a proposal to add a housing element to the Corporate Reserve project, a plan that was rejected by the City Council.

He makes no apologies and exudes confidence that each project is important to the future of St. Charles. He questions whether the controversy surrounding them really reflects numbers of opponents or their political volume.

Still, as vocal as his detractors have been on some issues, he’s received praise from his piers, as well.

Elected 3rd Ward alderman in 1993, DeWitte served three terms — 12 years representing the same ward that his father, Alphonse, served for 26 years. He mentions this with pride but says his father’s legacy was not a difficult one to follow. “It’s been difficult in that he wasn’t here to see it,” DeWitte said. “He died in ’95,” before the younger DeWitte was elected mayor in 2005 and again in 2009. “That’s been the hard part — I haven’t been able to share it with him … or my Mom, for that matter.”

She died in 2003. Politically active and a newspaper writer and former associate editor of the Kane County Chronicle, she warned him early on that in political life, there always is someone watching over your shoulder, “and she was right.”

Today, Monday, May 6, 2013, is his last day in office. It’s a moment he’s had plenty of time to prepare for, after announcing in August that he would not seek re-election. Still, it’s bittersweet — looking back on a career in public service that spanned two decades, yet gazing forward to new challenges that await him professionally.

“It’s time. I’m ready for this,” he told this reporter late last month after the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration.

Stepping in to replace him is another 3rd Ward alderman, Raymond Rogina, who will take on the mayor’s role after winning a hard-fought but civil campaign against three rivals.

Related

• Today: Q&A With St. Charles’ Exiting Mayor
• Today: St. Charles Aldermen Recall Service With Mayor DeWitte
• Aug. 31, 2012: Mayor DeWitte Won’t Seek Third Term