Four candidates announced plans to run on an independent ticket in the race for DeKalb mayor in the April 4 election.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow and 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell filed petitions Monday with the DeKalb City Clerk.

Two DeKalb businessmen – Adolph Miller, owner of Miller Real Estate and Insurance, 710 E. Lincoln Hwy., and Nick DeGraffenried, owner of Idea Plantation/DeGraphics, 126 N. First St., also have taken out petitions to run for mayor.

Mayoral candidates have until Jan. 23 to collect signatures and file petitions at the DeKalb City Clerk’s office.

Sparrow, who is seeking a third term, said he is basing his campaign on his 10-year-record working as an alderman and mayor of DeKalb.

Sparrow, 37, said his office has had a successful economic stay while in office. “We have a well-run operation that’s been in the black,” Sparrow said. “We’ve had eight good years. That’s going to continue if the citizens vote (and indicate) they want it to.”

Sparrow cited as an accomplishment during his tenure the DeKalb unemployment rate of below 4 percent, one of the lowest in Illinois. He also mentioned a decreased property tax rate and improvements to the city’s streets and water system.

Seventh Ward Alderman Mark Powell, 29, whose outspoken behavior at DeKalb City Council meetings and criticisms of the city government have repeatedly drawn media attention, was the first candidate to announce plans to run for mayor. Powell’s platform includes supporting an ordinance allowing 18- to 20-year-olds into DeKalb bars. Powell was unavailable for comment Friday.

Another contestant, 66-year-old Adolph Miller, declared his candidacy the day after Sparrow publicly expressed support for a proposed shopping center in DeKalb County. Sparrow voiced his support of the mall at a Jan. 11 DeKalb County Board meeting. Miller said he opposes a mall because of the impact on area businesses.

“We have plenty of empty stores now,” Miller said.

Miller, a co-coordinator of Citizens Against Pornography, said the pornography issue currently is not part of his platform. However, the group took it’s case to the state’s attorney’s office in June when they presented arguments that certain materials sold by area merchants were obscene.

DeGraffenried said he entered the race to provide a “reasonable alternative” to Sparrow. DeGraffenried, 35, would not commit to a platform, saying he wants to wait until he files the petitions making him an official contestant.

DeKalb County Board member Sam Bandy said he would enter the race on the Republican ticket if Powell decided to run as a Republican. When Powell did not enter the race as a Republican, Bandy decided not to run.