DeKALB | DeKalb’s city council is gearing up for this spring’s elections for aldermen.

The forthcoming elections will be selecting aldermen for the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th wards. The remaining aldermen (the 2nd, 4th and 6th) will not be up for election for two years. The council rotates between electing even- and odd-numbered ward aldermen every two years.

“We do this so that there won’t be a new council all at once,” City Clerk Donna Johnson said. The mayor and the city clerk are also elected during the same time as the even-numbered ward aldermen.

After the election, the positions, which are part-time, are held for four-year terms. The elected aldermen are then inaugurated in May at the city council meeting. After the end of that term, aldermen are able to run for office as many times as they like.

“There is no limit on how many times an alderman can run [for re-election],” Johnson said.

Of the four alderman positions up for grabs, only 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan will be running for re-election.

“I’m still interested in making a difference,” Kapitan said.

The other three aldermen have decided not to run for another term for a variety of reasons.

“[I won’t be running because of] a combination of family and career commitments,” said 7th Ward Alderman James Barr. Barr also said he will be taking another job in a west suburb of Chicago.

First Ward Alderman Karega Harris stated a similar reason as to why he would not run for another term.

“I’ve decided to work on other projects,” Harris said.

Fifth Ward Alderman Patrick Conboy also said he will not run for family reasons.

“I have served the 5th Ward for over 10 years, and now I would like to spend more time with my family,” Conboy said. “I hope to become more involved in other ways.”

The forms to run for office are due between Jan. 29 and Feb. 5.