Bolingbrook's Claar Hints His Days as Mayor May Be Numbered

During his closing remarks at the State of the Village Luncheon, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar took a moment to call for help from members of the Illinois general assembly on issues ranging from police and fire pensions to medicare.

Several local and state political leaders were in the audience at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. He urged them to be creative in finding ways to cut costs and save taxpayers money.

To that end, Claar said the Village eliminated three departments and axed several staff members in 2013. And he said to expect more of the same in 2014.

“We’re going to privatize services where we can,” Claar said. “And it’s not going to be popular. And you’ll read about it the paper.”

Read about it? Claar has a long history of making headlines.

And he said when his current term ends—in April 2017—he will have served as Bolingbrook’s mayor for 31 years and hinted that could be enough—even for him.

“As I said last year, ‘Don’t order the yard signs yet,’ " Claar said. “But this term could be it and, in the eyes of some, should be it.”