Bolingbrook Trustee Retires

A longtime Bolingbrook trustee has retired, leaving a vacancy on the board.

Village officials confirmed that Patricia Schanks, a trustee since 2003, has retired. She was most recently re-elected in 2015. On Tuesday night, Mayor Roger Claar bid a fond farewell to Schanks on social media:

Schanks has been a Bolingbrook resident for 56 years and worked as an office administrator for Coldwell Banker for nearly three decades, according to her bio on the Village of Bolingbrook website. She is a retired Will County family court clerk and mother of five, grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of five.

With her term not expiring until 2019, it will be up to Claar to appoint Schanks' replacement. Claar was out of the office on Wednesday, according to village staff, and did not respond to an email from Patch.

Claar, mayor since 1986, is seeking re-election in April, along with Village Clerk Carol Penning, trustees Mike Lawler and Maria Zarate, and recent trustee appointee Sheldon Watts. All five are running as part of the Bolingbrook First slate.

The Bolingbrook United slate is running in opposition, with Will County Board member Jackie Traynere looking to become the next mayor. Bolingbrook United trustee candidates are Robert Jaskiewicz, Mary Helen Rayna and Terri Ransom. Jaime Olson is running for clerk.

Trustee Patricia Schanks/Image via the Village of Bolingbrook