Chuck Pickerill, a longtime Villa Park resident and local business owner, is running for Villa Park Village President. Pickerill, who has lived in the village for more than 55 years, is pictured Saturday at his Villa Park business—Charley’s Auto Service—located at 225 W. Roosevelt Road. Pickerill’s late father—Charles Pickerill—started the business in 1957. For several years it was located at 149 W. St. Charles Road. “I would like to bring some new blood to the village board,” said Pickerill in explaining his reason to run for elective office for the first time.
By Chris Fox
Lombardian-Villa Park Review Staff Reporter
Politically speaking, Villa Park’s Chuck Pickerill could be described as an outsider. The 62-year-old business owner has never run for office, but that’s changing this year, as he has entered the race for Villa Park Village President. Pickerill will run against two other candidates—Trustee Albert Bulthuis and Trustee Robert Taglia—in the April 4 election.
Current Villa Park Village President Deborah Bullwinkel, whose four-year term expires this spring, announced recently she will not run for re-election. The deadline for candidates to enter the upcoming election passed on Dec. 19. Bullwinkel won a seat on the village board as a trustee in 2009. Four years later, in the spring of 2013, she was elected village president.
“I’ve been wanting to run for awhile,” said Pickerill in explaining his decision to enter the campaign. “I just decided that at this point in my life I have some time to devote to it. I want to see if I can step up and help make Villa Park better. I’d like to bring some new blood to the village board. Some new blood has to come in.”
As a resident of Villa Park, Pickerill is no outsider. He’s lived in the village for over 55 years—since he was 5 years old. Pickerill attended St. Alexander School from grades one through eight and graduated from Willowbrook High School. Pickerill and his wife Karen raised their six children in the village. He’s coached several youth athletic teams, and for several years he helped run the Tri-Town YMCA Indian Guides program. Tri-Town YMCA serves Villa Park, Lombard and Oakbrook Terrace. The Indian Guides program, now known as the Y Adventure Guides, offers a variety of activities boys and their fathers.
Pickerill’s late father—Charles Pickerill—spent several years with the Villa Park Fire Department, including about 13 years as the village’s fire chief. Charles Pickerill, who passed away in 2009, started Charley’s Auto Service, located at 149 W. St. Charles Road, in 1957. Chuck Pickerill began working with his father in 1973 and purchased the business from him in the mid-1980s. About six years ago, Chuck Pickerill split the business, selling the portion located on St. Charles Road and relocating Charley’s Auto Service to 225 W. Roosevelt Road. Pickerill’s Villa Park business currently shares the same building with Lucky Motors on the south side of Roosevelt. Pickerill’s business mainly deals in truck rentals, including U-Haul rentals. As a U-Haul dealer, Pickerill’s business also sells boxes and moving supplies.
“My main reason for getting involved is the business aspect,” said Pickerill in explaining his decision to run for village president. “I feel like the existing businesses in Villa Park are kind of forgotten, and not enough attention is paid to them. It seems like the village is out to promote new businesses moving in. The core businesses that are already here are an afterthought.”
In stating what he sees as Villa Park’s major challenges, Pickerill referred to several items, including the condition of the village’s two aging public pools, the need for a new community center and the condition of Villa Park’s youth baseball fields.
“We pay enough taxes here,” Pickerill said. “Something’s got to be done. Everything in this town is old; it hasn’t been upgraded for years and years.”
In addition to owning the business on Roosevelt Road, Pickerill is a builder. He said he’s built approximately 200 homes, including more than 30 homes in Villa Park.
“When I set out to do something, I do it,” said Pickerill. “I set a goal and achieve the goal.”
Pickerill said he is not aligned with any political party, and that he never votes straight Republican or Democrat. He said one of his biggest pet peeves is the large number of vacancies on the village’s various commissions that consist of resident volunteers.
“I’ve never seen so many vacancies,” said Pickerill. “No one went out and aggressively tried to fill those positions.”
Pickerill will kick off his campaign by holding a meet-and-greet event for residents tonight—Jan. 12—from 6:30–9 p.m. at Dominick’s Pizza and Pasta, 139 W. St. Charles Road. He said the event is not a fundraiser.
“I’m going to have a couple of events, make appearances and knock on doors,” said Pickerill in detailing some of his campaign plans. While he looks forward to meeting new people, Pickerill noted that he is already acquainted with a multitude of Villa Park residents and business owners.
“You don’t stay in one place for almost 60 years without getting to know a lot of people,” he said.
