Carpentersville village manager set to retire

The man who provided stability for Carpentersville in a position that was once a revolving door, and helped straighten out the village's abysmal financial record, is retiring.

Craig Anderson, village manager since 2002, will leave the post June 1.

"Sometimes the pieces come together and you realize the time is right," said Anderson, who notified village trustees during a closed session March 1. "I have been involved with local government full time for the last 36 years. It is about time."

Anderson, 59, said he does not have firm plans after retiring, but would be interested in pursuing opportunities as a consultant or interim village manager - a role he filled for a few months in 2002 for Long Grove.

"It has been challenging at times but I have learned a lot," Anderson said of his years in Carpentersville. "I think the experience has been worthwhile."

Trustees and staff members said Anderson brought consistency to the village after a period of ushering village managers in and out of the office.

"He has been a very stabilizing influence for the village," Village President Ed Ritter said. "It has been seven years of relative calm, which was preceded by five or six years of a revolving door administration. It will be a huge loss for the village."

Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt said the village had hired eight managers - either interim or full-time - between 1994 and 2002.

"It was difficult to get stability in there until Craig came along," said Schuldt, who shared interim village manager responsibilities with current Assistant Village Manager Dawn Wucki-Rossbach before Anderson's arrival. "He is going to be extremely hard to replace. As a department head, he has been a pleasure to work with."

Anderson began his public service career as the maintenance and equipment operator for the Glenview Water Department in 1973. He then held administrative assistant roles before becoming Glenview's assistant village manager in 1980.

His first jaunt as village manager was from 1988 to 2002 in Wheeling.

"There is a good staff here and people are dedicated to doing what's best for the community," Anderson said. "In that sense, it is good time to change managers. There are good things going on here and it's time to get someone new in here."

The village has not yet announced plans for Anderson's replacement.