A year after his unsuccessful campaign for mayor of St. Charles, former City Councilman John Gieseke reappeared at City Hall for Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Gieseke, who was front and center in the council factional battle that raged from 2004 until the April 2007 election, watched quietly as the city Wellness Commission presented its proposal for a ban on smoking at bars, restaurants and other enclosed public places.

Gieseke, a former respiratory therapist, told me before the meeting that he came to show his support for the proposal.

Gieseke was defeated last year by Mayor Patti York. In the same election, candidates allied with York took firm control of the council. Previously the 10-member body was divided 5-5 between pro- and anti-York factions.