Schaumburg Township road boss leaving

Schaumburg Township Highway Commissioner Robert Fecarotta announced Wednesday he won't seek re-election in April 2009 and said he might step down early.

Fecarotta, who twice won election as a member of state Rep. Paul Froehlich's former Schaumburg Township Alliance of Republicans, or STAR, said he has no time for a third term.

"My father used to say, 'Nothing lasts forever, but while you're there, do what you can,' " Fecarotta said.

He said his main reason for not running again is that his full-time job is taking up more of his time.

But he added that he's happy to avoid the "political games" of his former ally-turned-Democrat Froehlich and Froehlich's one-time campaign volunteer, Victor Santana, in another election.

Froehlich and Santana denied any plans to be involved in the 2009 township races.

Froehlich, who switched parties in June, is busy preparing for the February Democratic primary, where he's running for 56th District state representative against newcomer John Moynihan.

"Officially, I have no formal role (in the township) because I'm not a committeeman," Froehlich said. "(Fecarotta's) been miffed at me for awhile. He was miffed at me before I switched parties. He left STAR back in the spring."

Santana, a Chicago resident, said he has no personal interest in Schaumburg Township politics.

Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeman Rocco Terranova said he'd likely run a candidate for the township office, but that Santana would have no involvement in the campaign as long as Terranova is committeeman.

Michael Adelizzi, the new GOP committeeman for Schaumburg Township, had high praise for Fecarotta's accomplishments.

"I think he's done a phenomenal job," Adelizzi said. "I know when the tornadoes came through Schaumburg Township last fall, he was out there helping to clear debris and restore power. I think he'll be a very difficult person to replace."

Fecarotta said he may step down next spring to let a qualified Republican get a feel for the job before the election. Though the township board would make such an appointment, he hopes to find a responsible nominee.

"Bob, having done that job and knowing what it takes, his opinion would carry a lot of weight with me," Adelizzi said.