DeKalb Mayor-Elect Kris Povlsen knows a few things about time management.

Povlsen has served as both the DeKalb acting mayor and Ben Gordon Center director of prevention since August. He will continue to do so until his retirement from the Ben Gordon Center, after which he will only continue his job as mayor.

Depending on how a grant request comes back, he plans to retire in about eight to 10 months from the center, where he has worked for nearly 28 years.

The DeKalb Mayor position is a part-time job, which allows Povlsen the ability to continue his previous employment.

“Both jobs have demands, and both jobs have flexibility and blocks of time that allow me to do the other job,” Povlsen said. He added that his days are just longer.

Povlsen’s typical day starts out by heading to the Ben Gordon Center at about 7 a.m. and ends with leaving his office in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St., at about 5:30 or 6:30 p.m.

While an alderman on the DeKalb City Council, Povlsen also held his job at the center.

Since taking on the mayoral position, Povlsen said he has had to re-prioritize. This includes having to make personal sacrifices such as having less personal time and not getting to have “luxuries” such as watching shows like “American Idol” but said his wife, Jenine, is very understanding.

Other newly-elected officials such as Steve Kapitan, the DeKalb City Clerk-elect, is also looking forward to the transition. Unlike the mayoral position, the city clerk is considered full time.

Kapitan, who still plans to stay on part-time at Jewel-Osco, 1320 Sycamore Road, is already preparing to take office. He has talked with current City Clerk Donna Johnson and plans to spend at least a day or longer working in the office with Johnson to help “get a gauge of the day-to-day activity in the office.” He also plans to attend a Newly Elected Officials Conference May 15.

“I am excited about the opportunity to take on the responsibility of city clerk,” Kapitan said.

Povlsen is also looking toward the future.

“I think the biggest challenge that most communities face is continuing city services; police, fire, streets and public works, when our revenue is declining,” Povlsen said. “It’s going to be a challenge for our residents and our staff.”