hero

City Council

Naperville

Better
Together

MEET DEREK

Derek has called Naperville home for over 40 years. Growing up, he came to appreciate all our community offers and the organizations and institutions that instill a sense of service and support for your neighbors. Naperville is where Derek has proudly chosen to raise his family, build his professional financial advisory business, and give back by serving on various community boards and commissions.

More about Derek

  • Derek McDaniel and his family have proudly called Naperville home for over 40 years. The proud father of three is a proven financial expert, a dedicated community volunteer, and has spent years learning municipal government through service on the Planning & Zoning Commission.
  • Growing up, he enjoyed the amenities that have inspired generations for decades, including summers at Centennial Beach, sledding down Rotary Hill in the winter, and a downtown that provides everything from Municipal Band concerts to the Riverwalk and first-class dining and entertainment.
  • Derek was inspired to be involved in the community by his parents and by meeting Officer Friendly, Mayor A. George Pradel when he participated in Safety Town as a youth. After graduating from District 203’s Naperville Central High School, Derek earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and DePaul University, where he received his MBA with a concentration in Corporate Finance.
  • Today, Derek works in wealth management as a Senior Financial Advisor for one of our country’s largest financial institutions. Being entrusted to advise clients on the best use of their financial resources to achieve what they want for their family has earned Derek a reputation for providing honest and transparent advice.
  • Derek is serving his second term on the Planning & Zoning Commission, where he has learned how to evaluate proposed developments to ensure they meet Naperville’s standards and advance the community’s interest. This valuable experience has prepared Derek to serve on the City Council and handle complex matters that require acting in the best interest of the community.
  • He is also a member of the Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC), a group of downtown Naperville property owners, residents, and officials focused on the central business district's strategic, long-term, ongoing development and advancement.
  • Derek currently serves on the board of directors for Naperville Citizens Appreciate Public Safety (CAPS), an organization dedicated to recognizing the contributions of the city’s police and fire professionals.
  • Previously, Derek served on the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and in 2020, he was named a recipient of the organization’s 4 Under 40 Award. He has also served on the boards of Naperville Community Television (NCTV17) and the Naperville Heritage Society, which provides governance over Naper Settlement and its mission of historical preservation and education.

My Priorities

1) Keeping Naperville Safe: There is no room for playing politics with your safety.

The city’s foremost responsibility is the safety and security of your family, and there is no room to play politics with the safety of our community. That means appropriately funding, training, and equipping our professional first responders. Naperville has been one of the safest cities in America for decades, and the city council must keep it that way. We must continue to invest in proactive policing to deter, apprehend, and hold accountable those who choose to endanger our community and break the law.

Through the budgeting process, Derek will champion a safety-first focus because nothing is more important than the ongoing safety of the community in an increasingly complex world.

2) Spending Taxpayer Money Wisely & Cutting Property Taxes: The city council must spend every taxpayer dollar wisely so we can cut the city’s portion of your property tax bill.

While Naperville provides tremendous value to taxpayers, after years of persistent inflation and economic uncertainty, families need relief from ever-increasing property taxes. To reduce the burden on taxpayers, the city council must ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, efficiently, and based on need. Using his professional expertise and MBA in corporate finance, Derek will always support responsible financial management and balanced budgets.

Derek will advocate to reduce the city’s portion of your property tax bill every fiscal year. By growing our local economy with responsible local policies and managing the city’s finances with discipline, the city council can provide tax relief to the residents of Naperville while maintaining the high quality of life our community deserves.

3) Building on What Makes Naperville Unique: Maintaining a high-quality life through responsible leadership of our city.

As a lifelong resident of Naperville, Derek has seen how our community has grown and added amenities, cultural attractions, entertainment options, and institutions that have moved Naperville forward. The city’s policies and regulations impact the business climate, and the city council must prioritize growing the local economy, creating jobs, and attracting investment to Naperville.

Through his two terms on the Planning & Zoning Commission, Derek has honored our community’s past, respected the city’s proven standards for excellence, sought compromise to move responsible proposals forward, and helped usher in a new era of best-in-class development across the community.

4) Putting Naperville First: Avoid politics and focus on what strengthens our community because we’re better together.

Naperville consistently ranks as one of the top cities in America to live, work, retire, or raise a family. We must preserve and celebrate those unique characteristics that make it an amazing place. For decades, our community's strong sense of togetherness, exceptional schools, a vibrant local economy, and commitment to public safety have been the pillars of Naperville’s success. It is incumbent that the next generation of municipal leaders step up to serve on the city council and act in the best interest of the entire community.

Derek is committed to honoring and building upon the city’s enduring vision for excellence, acting with integrity, providing honest leadership, and improving the high quality of life residents deserve.

We Need You

Join Us & Stay Updated

Help Derek

DONATE TODAY TO HELP MY CAMPAIGN

Stay Connected

Follow us on social media