St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina has announced he will not seek a third term as mayor in the April 2021 election.
“I am so fortunate for having had the opportunity to serve this community that I love for so long and in so many different roles,” Rogina said in a statement.
Rogina was first elected mayor in 2013. He previously represented Ward 3 as an alderman on the St. Charles City Council for two years.
Prior to being mayor, Rogina was a department chairman in Business Education and instructor in Law and Economics at St. Charles East High School for more than 30 years.
“I have met so many people in my tenure as an elected official, including encountering former students who are now in leadership roles. And I have thoroughly enjoyed being an unabashed cheerleader for St. Charles. The enrichment I have derived from my role as mayor is beyond description,” he said.
Rogina made the announcement months in advance of the April election.
“I look forward, in the remainder of my term, continuing to guide the city, with my colleagues on the City Council, to a conclusion of the ongoing pandemic and development of worthy projects already in concept stage,” he said.
One of the significant projects the city has had was the construction of a new St. Charles Police Department headquarters.
The 56,000-square-foot, two-story building is located in the center of the city on a 6.5-acre site at 1515 Main St., formerly the location of the Valley Shopping Center. It replaced the old police station at 211 N. Riverside Ave., portions of which were nearly 100 years old.
The new facility, which opened in September of 2019, was designed to support the city’s police operations for the next 50 years, city officials said.
Even though he will not be running for re-election, Rogina said he is not going anywhere.
“St. Charles remains my home. I look forward to seeing everyone around town,” Rogina said.
More Top Picks Why Does My Child Get Headaches After School Every Day
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.