As a city full of talent, here are just five people to watch for in Elmhurst in 2009.

3rd Ward Alderman Susan Rose

Having served Elmhurst’s 3rd Ward since 1991, Alderman Susan Rose is looking to put anther job on her resume: mayor. With longtime Elmhurst Mayor Tom Marcucci stepping down this spring, Rose was the first person to throw her hat into the mayoral ring.

Now with an opponent in 6th Ward Alderman George Szczepaniak, Rose will have to prove to voters she is the best, and not only, person for the job.

Police Chief Steve Neubauer

Last year alone, Elmhurst Police Chief Steve Neubauer dealt with several bank robberies, a made-up hate crime at Elmhurst College that resulted in the “victim’s” arrest, child solicitation cases and school threats, among many other crimes.

Neubauer started this year with the department investigating an armed robbery at Domino’s and another child solicitation case.

So how does Neubauer keep the department running so smoothly? As he said last year, by hiring the right people for the job.

“My favorite part is when I sit back and look at the overall safety in the community,” he said in May.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-6th District

Second-term U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam is returning to a different Washington. It is the first time in 14 years that Democrats have controlled both the White House and Congress.

On Election Night, Roskam named the issues facing the nation next term; premier among them, he said, is preserving the free market amid economic turmoil. That is an issue he likely will have to face right away as a member of the House Financial Services Committee, which includes economic stabilization in its scope. Roskam also recently was named to the high-profile U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.

DuPage County Board member Brien Sheahan, R-2nd District

Brien Sheahan of Elmhurst, who narrowly was re-elected to the County Board in November, is a longtime critic of Chairman Robert Schillerstrom. Sheahan is developing into the de facto leader of a group of board members seeking more independence from Schillerstrom. Six Republicans and three newly elected Democrats joined in December to reject the chairman’s committee assignments for the first time. The changing political landscape of the board could create new challenges for Schillerstrom, and Sheahan is likely to be leading the way.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett

After two previous unsuccessful campaigns for statewide office, DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett is preparing for a second try for attorney general or possibly a run for governor.
Birkett already has started positioning himself for the campaign by publicly opposing clemency for former Gov. George Ryan and speaking out against Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In 2009 it should become more clear which office the four-term state’s attorney will pursue.