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Fifth Ward Alderman Ed Bessner announced that he will not seek reelection when his current term ends.
Bessner’s departure comes after two decades of public service. He said he plans to remain active in the St. Charles community.
“After 20 years, I’ve decided the time is right to step away and not seek another term,” Bessner said. “It has been an extraordinary privilege to represent the residents of the Fifth Ward, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in me over the years.”
Before joining the City Council, Bessner served for two years as treasurer and president of his homeowners association and then spent three years as vice president of the St. Charles Plan Commission.
He was elected to the City Council in 2007 and has served five terms representing the Fifth Ward. Projects he worked on include the Red Gate Bridge, the new St. Charles Police Department, the arrival of Costco, and efforts to make downtown St. Charles more pedestrian-friendly through safety and traffic-calming measures.
One of the projects closest to Bessner’s heart is the First Street District. His involvement began in the early planning stages while he was serving on the Plan Commission and continued throughout the project’s development. That work culminated with the dedication and ribbon cutting of First Street Plaza on January 24, 2024.
“First Street is particularly meaningful to me because I was involved with it from the early days of planning through the dedication of the plaza,” Bessner said. “It’s a great example of what can happen when people have a vision for their community, take the long view and work together to make that vision a reality.”
While Bessner is stepping away from his role as a St. Charles alderman, he emphasized that he is not stepping away from St. Charles.
“St. Charles has been our home since 2002, and it will continue to be our home,” Bessner said. “I’m not going anywhere. I care deeply about this community, and I look forward to staying involved and seeing what the next chapter brings.”
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