March 29, 2024
Government

Former Sycamore alderman selected to fill empty seat left by Rick 'Spider' Kramer upon death

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A familiar face to the Sycamore City Council is set to be appointed for the vacant Fourth Ward seat during the council's meeting next week.

Sycamore Mayor Curt Lang is recommending the appointment of David Stouffer to serve as Fourth Ward alderman, according to the agenda for the council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday via Zoom. He said Stouffer previously served as an alderman for the city's First Ward before temporarily relocating for work and Stouffer now lives in the Fourth Ward with his family.

"So he is familiar with the council and the council's workings," Lang said.

The Fourth Ward alderman was vacated with the resignation of the late Rick "Spider" Kramer, who died Nov. 2 after a battle with cancer. Upon Kramer's resignation, Lang began the process to select a successor to serve through April 2021.

"Spider's going to be hard to replace," Lang said. "He will be missed, and I think David [Stouffer] can do his best to replace Spider, but it's going to be difficult to replace Spider on our council."

Lang said Stouffer was one of four people who expressed interest in the position. He said the others did not have experience serving on a city council and whoever would be appointed to the seat would be appointed until the April 2021 election.

"I felt like he could fit in very easily," Lang said.

City officials wrote in the Monday agenda that, given that there is more than half of the term remaining, the final two years of the term will be included in the April 2021 election. Lang said Stouffer previously told him he was interested in running for the seat during the election as well.

Stouffer is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, according to city meeting documents. He has been involved in the community as a member of the city's Fire and Police Board of Commissioners, a former library board member, a past participant in the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy and a former employee of the Kishwaukee YMCA, according to meeting documents.

After a City Council vote, Stouffer is expected to be sworn in by the city clerk and seated as the newest member of the council.

Katie Finlon

Katie Finlon

Katie Finlon covers local government and breaking news for DeKalb County in Illinois. She has covered local government news for Shaw Media since 2018 and has had bylines in Daily Chronicle, Kendall County Record newspapers, Northwest Herald and in public radio over the years.