Veteran West Chicago alderman stepping down

Alton “Spence” Hallett, an alderman on the West Chicago City Council since 2013, is resigning from his position, effective Dec. 31.

Hallett made the announcement during Monday’s council meeting.

“I’m getting tired, and I want to spend more time with my wife (Cindy) and doing things,” Hallett told the Daily Herald on Tuesday. “And quite honestly, I think it’s time for someone younger to take over.”

The 78-year-old was one of two aldermen representing Ward 3 on the council. He also served on city committees for infrastructure and public affairs. His current term as alderman was set to expire in May 2027.

“I really enjoy the city I live in,” he said. “I have a lot of friends. It’s time for me to relax a little bit more.”

The city plans to fill the Ward 3 vacancy at the first city council meeting in January, Mayor Dan Bovey said. The council will vote on a mayoral appointee to serve the remainder of the term.

Hallett was among the incumbent West Chicago aldermen who, during several council meetings, contested Bovey’s initial actions and appointments after defeating former Mayor Ruben Pineda in the April election.

After Hallett’s announcement on Monday, Bovey noted “some rocky goings at times” with the alderman, but appreciated that he always knew where Hallett stood.

“We found areas where we could work together. I made an effort,” Hallett said Tuesday.

“I told him from the beginning, if you have a thing I agree with, I’ll support you. And if you have things I don’t agree with, I won’t support you. That’s the way it was with the previous mayor, too.”

An Air Force veteran, Hallett received the Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal after being deployed from May 1968 to May 1969 in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, where he worked on fighter planes.

After the service, Hallett briefly worked as a telephone design engineer before working for 30 years as a United Parcel Service driver.

He moved to West Chicago in 1976 after arriving in Maywood from New York in 1974.

Hallett said he learned a lot about how government operates in his nearly 13 years on the city council, he said, including that people could remain friendly even if they “debated strongly.”

It helps to be a straight shooter.

“One thing people learn from me,” Hallett said, “is if they ask for it, they get it.”