Brian Krajewski Files to Run for Downers Grove Mayor

The former mayor joins Commissioner Christopher Gilmartin in the race to succeed term-limited Robert Barnett.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in City Hall

Brian Krajewski Files to Run for Downers Grove Mayor

Live Poll

Do you prefer a local candidate with prior mayoral experience over a current village commissioner?

Former Downers Grove Mayor Brian Krajewski has filed petitions to seek the mayoral office again in the upcoming April 2027 consolidated election. He will face current Village Commissioner Christopher Gilmartin, as sitting Mayor Robert Barnett is ineligible for reelection due to term limits.

Why it matters

The race will determine the village leadership following Barnett’s tenure, with candidates focusing on project completion and existing planning initiatives. Krajewski intends to step down from his DuPage County Board seat if he secures the mayoral victory.

Brian Krajewski served as mayor from 1999 to 2007 and was later elected to the DuPage County Board in 2010. His challenger, Christopher Gilmartin, has served on the village board since 2021.

The players

Brian Krajewski

He is a current DuPage County Board member who previously served as the mayor of Downers Grove for eight years.

Christopher Gilmartin

He is a current Downers Grove commissioner who has been a member of the village board since 2021.

Robert Barnett

He is the current mayor of Downers Grove who is unable to seek reelection due to established term limits.

The details

Krajewski cites a desire to increase the opportunity to complete work in Downers Grove, while Gilmartin emphasizes his commitment to seeing through ongoing village planning initiatives. If Krajewski is elected, the DuPage County Board chair will be responsible for appointing a Republican to fill his vacated board seat.

Brian Krajewski served as mayor of Downers Grove from 1999 to 2007.
Krajewski was elected to the county board in 2010.
Christopher Gilmartin began his service on the village board in 2021.
The DuPage County Board seat term is set to conclude in November 2026.
The consolidated election for Downers Grove mayor will occur in April 2027.

Political Context

The upcoming election marks a significant transition forced by Downers Grove mayoral term limits that prevent the incumbent from seeking another term. This creates an open seat scenario where local voters must choose between returning to a former executive or elevating a current commissioner.

Residents will head to the polls in April 2027 to decide which candidate will lead the village's future planning and operations. The result will also trigger a vacancy appointment process for the DuPage County Board District 3 seat if Krajewski wins.

The takeaway

This election represents a pivotal choice between contrasting leadership styles for the village's upcoming development phase. Voters should review the public platforms of both candidates to understand how each plans to manage village planning initiatives.