Full Breakdown
Evanston City Council Appoints Alderman Jonathan Nieuwsma as Acting Mayor
By Drooid · · How we work
Appointment and Council Vote
On a Monday night meeting, the Evanston City Council selected Alderman Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th Ward) to serve as acting mayor following former Mayor Daniel Biss’s resignation. The decision was made by a narrow 5-4 vote, with councilmembers Clare Kelly (1st), Tom Suffredin (6th), Parielle Davis (7th) and Matt Rodgers (8th) opposing the appointment. The council had earlier retained a simple majority requirement for selecting an acting mayor after a failed attempt to raise the threshold to a two-thirds supermajority.
Procedural Background
Mayor Biss stepped down weeks before the November election to run for Illinois’s 9th Congressional District seat, prompting the need for an interim leader. Councilmember Kelly, who had served as mayor pro tempore, postponed an earlier special meeting and moved the acting-mayor vote to the end of the regular session, citing agenda-setting responsibilities. Six candidates filed petitions by the deadline to run in the upcoming special election, with the field narrowed through a primary in February and a general election scheduled for April 6.
Official Statements & Responses
Nieuwsma emphasized his intent to maintain continuity rather than launch new initiatives, stating he does not seek a permanent mayoral term. Alderman Krissie Harris reminded councilmembers of their duty to support whichever mayor assumes office. Councilmember Parielle Davis expressed disappointment that the two-thirds threshold was not adopted, questioning whether the council chose the best candidate or simply the willing one. Alderman Kelly defended her agenda changes as necessary to avoid placing an unprepared councilmember in the mayoral chair.
Election Timeline
- Petition filing period concluded with six candidates entering the race.
- If three or more candidates qualify, a February primary will determine the top two.
- Should no candidate secure a majority in the primary, the top two will contest the April 6 general election.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to be clear, I don’t want to be mayor either — which is why I’m not running for mayor,” — Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma
- “Whoever is mayor, it is you all’s expectation that we support them to do the work of Evanston,” — Ald. Krissie Harris
- “I originally recommended that we have a two-thirds majority for picking acting mayor, and that did not go through,” — Parielle Davis
- “As Mayor Pro Tem, I’m responsible for the agenda,” — Alds. Clare Kelly
- “I hope that when we do as a community elect a new mayor, that we will be able to hand the reins over to him or her in six months with the city in better shape than it is now,” — Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma