Mayor Tokar, Chicago Ridge, Illinois (IL)

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Mayor Charles E. Tokar

Village Clerk Charles Tokar Elected in April of 2013, Charles E. Tokar is currently the Village President for the Village of Chicago Ridge. He attended Our Lady of the Ridge grammar school in Chicago Ridge, Marist High School in Alsip, and Knox College in Galesburg, receiving his BS in Political Science and International Relations with Honors. He went on to graduate from Northern Illinois University Law School in 1978 and received his Masters Degree in Public Administration with Honors from Governors State University in 1992.

After spending 12 years practicing law, and 14 years as a Village Trustee, Chuck was elected Clerk in 1989, and later was appointed Budget Officer. That same year he started the very popular annual RidgeFest celebration, and has since served as Chair of the RidgeFest Committee.

As a member of the Municipal Clerks of Illinois for over 20 years, he has served on numerous committees, and as District Director, Secretary, Vice President and two terms as President. He received the Illinois Clerk of the Year Award in 1999, and, cumulating a four-year term, served as Chair of Illinois' Institute Training Committee.

Chuck was instrumental in pushing for Home Rule status for Chicago Ridge, which has been essential to keeping property taxes low and shifting the tax burden from the property tax to the sales tax.

After a number of years of advanced study, Chuck received the designation of Master Municipal Clerk in 2002, becoming one of the first Clerks to receive the MMC designation in Illinois. In May of 2007, Chuck was elected President of the International Institute of Clerks, an organization of over 10,000 members worldwide. IIMC's mission is "Professionalism in Local Government through Education," and its purpose is to enhance the professionalism, status, and image of Municipal Clerks throughout the world. In May of 2013 he was honored by IIMC when he was chosen to receive that organization’s highest honor, the Quill Award.

Chuck has been a lifetime resident of Chicago Ridge, where his family operated Tokar's Supper Club for over 25 years. Finally, he is extremely proud of his son Charlie, who is a research analyst at a Chicago investment firm, while pursuing a Masters Degree in Finance from DePaul University.

Village of Chicago Ridge
10455 S. Ridgeland Avenue
Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415
(708) 425-7700

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