Village of Bolingbrook Seats Newly-elected Trustees on Board

At the regular Village Board meeting at 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, the Village of Bolingbrook conducted the Swearing-In ceremony for the Village Trustees who were successful in the April 2019 Consolidated Election. Trustees-elect Mary Alexander-Basta and Michael Carpanzano are new to public office. Sheldon Watts was originally appointed to fill the vacancy of the office held by Leroy Brown, who had passed away. The Trustees serve a four-year term, representing the community of over 76,000 residents.

All three Trustees expressed their gratitude to the residents for the successful election, and appreciation to their families for their support during the campaign and for the coming years as they serve the community. They also acknowledged the hundreds of volunteers who worked on their behalf to enable them to meet the residents over the last several months, learning their concerns, and communicating their vision for the future of Bolingbrook.

Mary Alexander-Basta stated, “I will continue to be an active member of a community that is rich in culture and diversity, an inclusive community that continues to grow and flourish, and I want to be a part of that growth.” Basta further stated, “I want to be a role model for my children as well as other youth and show them that communities succeed when their citizens step up.”

Sheldon Watts, who completed Deputy Mayor Leroy Brown’s term as Trustee, said, “I’m extremely passionate about giving back (to the Community) and service to others; I’ve enjoyed being an avid volunteer with numerous community organizations over the years. . . and I believe my professional and educational experiences have played a significant role in preparing me for the task at hand.”

Lastly, Michael Carpanzano explained, “I care about Bolingbrook and for years I have worked tirelessly to give a larger (and louder) voice to amazing non-profit organizations serving our community. Our team of candidates has the knowledge, anchored by amazing experience, and brought to life through our energy and enthusiasm."

At the Village Board meeting, the Village also acknowledged the service of the two outgoing Trustees, Ricardo Morales and Deresa Hoogland, whose terms expired in April of 2019, and who did not seek re-election.

From Ric Morales: “My family and I have been proud residents of Bolingbrook since 1996. Since 2001, I have had the privilege of serving as a Trustee on the Bolingbrook Village Board. During that time, I have watched my children grow, and we have enjoyed all that Bolingbrook has had to offer. I have also been fortunate to have a successful career in banking. With this success comes added responsibilities that require my attention. For this reason, along with other personal reasons, I decided not to seek re-election in 2019."

From Deresa Hoogland: “I am a 29-year resident of Bolingbrook. I was honored to be appointed by Mayor Claar in early 2017 to complete the unexpired term of former Village Trustee Pat Schanks, which will end in Spring of 2019.

I regret that my health is an ongoing challenge, and for that reason, I will not seek elective office in the April 2019 Consolidated Election. It has been a wonderful experience to serve on the Village Board. I love Bolingbrook and look forward to remaining involved in the community.”

For additional information, contact: Michael Lawler, Phone: (630) 222-6689; Email: mlawler@bolingbrook.com