Kris Povlsen is currently taking on a new position in DeKalb City Council, as mayor.

Povlsen went from being a Second Ward alderman to appointed as the new mayor of DeKalb Aug. 11 by a 6-0 vote from city council. This decision came after the death of Mayor Frank Van Buer, July 23 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Povlsen was an alderman for 11 years after being elected in 1997. His professional political experience began there, after reading about the opening for the position and deciding to run.

“I ran for class president in high school and won,” Povlsen said. “I read in the paper that there was an opening for Second Ward alderman and I said, ‘Wow, I wonder if I could do that. I’m pretty involved with the community, I wonder if I could get elected.'”

Prior to his alderman position, Povlsen said he was involved with DeKalb County Partnership for a Safe, Active and Family Environment (DCP/SAFE) for eight or nine years. DCP/SAFE is involved with promoting healthy lifestyles for the community.

Povlsen’s roots run deep into the community, having grown up in Sycamore and having attended NIU.

“I’m a Sycamore boy; a local boy,” Povlsen said. “I went to graduate school at NIU so you can call me an NIU alum. I have a daughter who went to NIU.”

Povlsen will have to be more involved with NIU in his journey from alderman to mayor.

“NIU is an important part of the community,” Povlsen said. “We’re in this together. I’ll be involved in working with our chiefs in tandem to make sure that our community and the NIU community is safe.”

Povlsen said that he and Van Buer agreed on a lot of big issues in the city and disagreed on smaller issues. Both Povlsen and Van Buer agreed on doing things to not only benefit DeKalb in the present but also the future.

One of the areas that Povlsen and Van Buer did not agree on was liquor policies. Povlsen believes that when they are making decisions on liquor laws, the city should work closely with the liquor industry to make changes that will attempt to benefit everyone.

“When we make policy decisions, we engage the stakeholders from day one,” Povlsen said. “We are trying to get the community more involved with the government.”

Povlsen believes when it comes to the rental inspection policy, it is best to just let people calm down and let the issue rest. This is another situation where he wants to involve the stakeholders in the decision making process.

Povlsen is unsure whether he will decide to run for mayor when the May 2009 election comes around.

“I really can’t commit at this point of time,” Povlsen said. “A lot will have to do with if the community accepts me.”

Povlsen said the decision is one that he will have to think about and discuss with his family.

“I hope I can bring a positive image to the community,” Povlsen said. “I want to continue to bring a more open form of government. People feel a disconnect with government and the community. We’re in this together. Let’s get rid of this ‘us versus them’ mind set.”

Povlsen said there is a list of potential candidates to fill the vacant Second Ward position and the goal is to appoint the alderman at the first city council meeting in September.