Will County Board member announces run for mayor in Bolingbrook

Will County Board member Jackie Traynere announced over the weekend her second campaign for mayor of Bolingbrook.

Traynere fell 151 votes short in the 2017 election against longtime Mayor Roger Claar in a heated campaign.

She wasted little time attacking Claar and said she decided to run again in 2021 to “shed the oppressive policies of the current mayor,” according to a news release.

"Here in Bolingbrook, we have a court of village trustees and a king-like mayor, and it is with that in mind, that I am here today with my independent voice to keep us moving forward and begin the process of shedding our yoke of oppression," Traynere said in a campaign launch video.

Traynere criticized Claar for trying to "push out new good paying jobs," such as the ones that would come with a new Amazon distribution center. Claar said earlier this year he was "not excited" about Amazon's purchase of the former Old Chicago site and plans to construct an 850,000 square-foot building near an already busy part of Route 53.

Traynere added she would work to eliminate a new “garbage tax” she said the village implemented in 2019.

“I have been approached by so many residents upset with the new garbage tax,” she said in the release. “For many this was a 40% or higher Bolingbrook property tax increase with no upgrades in service.”

Claar first became mayor in 1986 to fill a vacancy and has been elected to the post 10 times since then.

In 2017, Traynere and other members of the Bolingbrook United party challenged Claar, the village clerk and three incumbent village trustees.

The challenges arose due to the backlash Claar received for hosting then-candidate Donald Trump for a fundraiser at the Bolingbrook Golf Club in September 2016. Bob Jaskiewicz was the sole Bolingbrook United candidate to win a spot in village government.

Jaskiewicz praised Traynere’s candidacy, arguing she has good name recognition within the village.

“She knows the territory,” he said of Traynere. “She knows the environment. She’ll be a strong candidate.”

As to whether Claar would run again for mayor next year, he’s made numerous public statements hinting he would not seek re-election. Jaskiewicz said Claar has said several times he wants to spend more time with family in California.

At the June 23 village board meeting, Claar asked a representative from a hotel getting ready to open in Bolingbrook about their grand opening plans.

“Do you invite former mayors?” he said.

Claar did not respond to a request for comment.