St. Charles has a new City Council member: David Petschke, a resident who works as the Kane County Forest Preserve District’s chief financial and administrative officer.
As of May 1, St. Charles had a vacant Ward 3 seat on its City Council, left by Bob Gehm, who stepped down last month. Gehm had served on the council since 2023 — first being appointed, and then being elected to the seat in 2025.
St. Charles is divided into five wards, each with two City Council members. Gehm’s term as one of the two Ward 3 members of the City Council was set to expire in 2027.
Following Gehm’s resignation, the city sought applicants for the seat.
Petschke was ultimately selected from a review process that included 10 applicants and interviews with four finalists, according to a news release from the city. He was appointed by Mayor Clint Hull with the support of the City Council, and will serve out the remainder of the term, through April 2027, city officials said.
Petschke is a 12-year resident of St. Charles, the city said, and currently serves as the chief financial and administrative officer for the Kane County Forest Preserve District. He’s also the treasurer of the Kane County Forest Preserve Foundation, per the news release, and has worked as an audit supervisor and consultant for a government-focused CPA firm.
Hull said in the news release that Petschke distinguished himself from the pool of applicants because of his “financial expertise and dedication to public service.”
“He will be a strong addition to (the) City Council and a committed representative for Ward 3 residents,” Hull said.
