CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A North Chicago alderman is calling it a career.
Bob Runnels was first elected in 2007 and re-elected to another term in 2019. He's resigning with two years left in his term. Runnels is several months shy of his 87th birthday, and he said he wants to retire while he still has his health.
"I like to play golf every day. I have kids to see all over the Midwest and I want to start enjoying life. So that's why I'm capping my 57 years of public service," Runnels told WBBM Newsradio.
He said his career in public service began when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Chicago in 1953. For 20 years he served as a journalist and public affairs officer. His Navy career took him all over the world, from Naval Station Great Lakes to Korea and Vietnam. He moved to North Chicago with his wife and seven children in 1960, and said he always considered North Chicago to be his hometown.
After leaving the Navy in 1953, Runnels worked as a reporter for KMTV-TV in Omaha.
Runnels said he became emotional during his recent retirement party.
"I'm proud of what I did, and it looks like my community here in North Chicago is still going to be appreciative for me for the rest of my life," Runnels said, adding with a laugh, "Unless I do something crazy.”