DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow chose labor leader Gary Wiggins for approval as the new 3rd Ward alderman Wednesday.

The DeKalb City Council will consider the nomination tonight. The appointment was necessary after current 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Hanna announced he would leave the seat because of his move to the 5th Ward.

Sparrow cited Wiggins’ longtime business operation in the ward and his work with the city council on labors’ behalf as factors which swayed him. He said Wiggins had the broad-based interets and experience the other candidates lacked.

Hanna said, “He was certainly my choice of the people that applied. Who better would represent the (ward’s) bluecollar community than one of the group.”

Wiggins is the business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 612 and the president of the DeKalb County Building Trades.

Electrician Dan Seymour was also seriously considered as well as Democratic Committee member Susannah Blake, Sparrow said.

Seymour was unfavorably perceived as a “one issue” candidate, while Blake’s two losses to Hanna in previous elections hampered her chances, Sparrow said.

Wiggins said he was familiar with the workings of city council because of his previous experience.

“Anytime the city council has called on me, I felt that I’ve responded,” he said.

Wiggins said the importance of NIU for him is in the number of jobs the school provides.

Wiggins also was a pipefitter from 1966 to 1981. He graduated from DeKalb High School in 1965. Wiggins has lived in DeKalb all his life.