Mayor Claar Retires, Basta Steps in as Acting Mayor
For Immediate Release
Friday, July 31, 2020
Bolingbrook -- Mary Alexander-Basta, a Bolingbrook resident since 2003 and currently serving as a Village Trustee, was appointed as Acting Mayor of Bolingbrook at a Special Meeting of the Village Board on July 30. Her appointment is to fill the remaining term of outgoing Mayor Roger C. Claar, who is stepping down on July 31 after serving as Mayor for over 34 years.
The Village Board accepted Claar's resignation at the regular meeting of July 28. Claar announced his intention to leave office several months ago. According to Illinois State Law, the Mayor's replacement, must come from existing elected members of the Village Board.
As part of her Trustee role, Basta serves on the Village's Public Safety Committee and the Public Services Committee. Prior to being elected to the Village Board, Basta served as Chair of the Bolingbrook Plan Commission, which reviews all new development before seeking approval from the Village Board. Basta also serves on the Executive Board of the Bolingbrook Soccer Club and serves as a Consultant for the ECN Children's Cancer Network.
In past years, she was active in the community serving as a Founding Vice President of Bolingbrook STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) Association for youth, President of the Bloomfield West Il Homeowners Association, PTA President at Eichelberger Elementary School, President of the John F. Kennedy PTA, and President of the Plainfield Middle Schools Music Boosters.
Basta has received recognition as the recipient of the CAPE (Coordination of Parent and groups for Educational Efficiency) Award for the Plainfield School District in 2013, 2017 and 2019. In honor of her exemplary service to the Bolingbrook community over the years, she was chosen as the 2018 Bolingbrook Female Citizen of the Year.
Basta currently works as an independent Hospitality and Event Consultant. Her past career includes Social and Corporate Event Planning, Hotel and Club Management at locations such as the Palmer House Hilton, Four Seasons, and the Chicago Yacht Club where she became the first female General Manager in the Club's 125-year history.
Basta, and her husband Dr. Emad Basta, along with their sons Peter and Benjamin, have become a fabric of the community since moving to Bolingbrook, joining her as volunteers for various causes through the years. Basta will begin her role as Acting Mayor of The Village of Bolingbrook and has committed to being the full-time Mayor while accepting the part-time salary that was approved at the Village Board Meeting of July 28.
Contact Information:
Village of Bolingbrook Executive Department
Phone: (630)226-8416
Email: executive@bolingbrook.com