Publications & Sites 
Niles trustee still faces term-limits obstacle in mayoral aspirations
Niles Trustee Andrew Andrew Przybylo. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Updated: October 14, 2012 1:07PM
NILES — Though Niles Trustee Andrew Przybylo knows there are still more hurdles to overcome in his push to be eligible for a mayoral bid, a major obstacle has been cleared now that Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a bill permitting liquor-license holders to run for mayor.
Before the new bill was signed, Przybylo was ineligible to run for mayor because he owns White Eagle Banquet Hall in Niles, for which purpose he is a liquor-license holder.
The new law allows liquor-license holders to run for mayor, with the stipulation that village trustees must appoint a liquor commissioner who is an attorney and that the mayor have no influence on that decision.
“I am considering it, but I still haven’t made up my mind,” Przybylo said. “I don’t know if Mayor (Robert) Callero is running and that’s going to impact my decision.”
Another factor is whether a question regarding term limits will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
“If the referendum gets on the ballot and passes then I can’t serve anyway,” he said.
A group of citizens, led by resident Joe Makula, recently filed a lawsuit in order to get term limits on the ballot. The group would like to see a limit of four four-year terms for a total of 16 years. Przybylo would not be able to run for mayor if those limits were put in place.
Przybylo said he is not against term limits, but that he is opposed to the way the petition was drafted, saying Makula’s group did not differentiate between the positions of trustee and mayor.
Przybylo said he is glad that the governor signed the new bill and he believes others, elsewhere, are in similar positions as owners of restaurants and bars who wish to serve their communities.
“Why shouldn’t they have the ability to serve the community?” he said.
