Bolingbrook police chief appears in line for Naperville park job

Bolingbrook police Chief Ray McGury appears on his way to becoming Naperville Park District's next executive director.

He would replace Daniel Betts, who resigned last week after less than five months on the job.

Park commissioners interviewed McGury behind closed doors for just over an hour Tuesday and do not plan to interview anyone else, President Suzanne Hart said Wednesday.

Hart said the board considered all 10 finalists from last year's director search before choosing to bring McGury - the only local candidate - in for another interview

She would not discuss whether the district has made McGury an offer but said she personally feels he is a man of integrity and a born leader.

"Our staff is amazing so we don't necessarily need someone in parks and recreation," she said. "We have that. We have the experts in that. We need someone who is going to help and lead and deal with the seven-person board and elected officials and get out there and do his thing."

McGury, 48, spent 21 years on Naperville's police force and reached the rank of captain before becoming Bolingbrook's chief in 2005.

He said he has a good position in Bolingbrook and thinks highly of his colleagues, the mayor and the village board, but feels the park district position is an opportunity worth pursuing.

Without an offer in hand Wednesday, he would not comment on whether he would accept the Naperville job, but said his management experience makes him a good candidate.

"You either have it or you don't and I'd like to think I have the skills I think would be positive ... for the park board," he said. "Working in Naperville over 20 years I know the city, certainly know people by first name and could hit the ground running and could step up and get things done and mend fences perceived to be broken."

McGury's experience with the district includes about 15 years as a volunteer football and baseball coach. He ran unsuccessfully for the park board in 1997.

If hired, one of the issues he would like to address is the shortage of indoor program space and he said developing partnerships might help alleviate the problem. The district previously has talked about building an indoor recreation center but he wants to do more research before deciding whether that's the way to go.

"We have to become creative and tighten our belt here but we also have to meet the demands of our customers," he said. "That's our sole purpose."

He also would like to address the negative perception of the park district, which is known for its infighting and revolving door of directors.

Betts, for example, joined the district in March as its eighth director - including interims - in the past 12 years. But by mid-July, trouble already was brewing as he took a sudden and unexplained leave of absence. On Aug. 14 he officially resigned due to "philosophical and operational differences," according to the severance agreement between Betts and the district.

Mindy Munn, director of business services, is now serving as acting director as she did before Betts' arrival.

But the district's troubled history isn't a deterrent to McGury, who says he has been through his share of tough times during more than two decades in public service.

"Life is full of challenges," he said. "Am I a messiah? Absolutely not. Is there a lot of work ahead of me? Yes ... but I like my odds based on past successes I've had and looking at what's in place currently."

Among the most recent challenges he's faced is the unsolved disappearance of Stacy Peterson, the wife of former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson, which has garnered national attention.

State police are leading that investigation but if he is hired by Naperville, McGury says his department "won't miss a beat."

"As a leader or a manager of an organization, if you are not creating future leaders, creating people and molding people to take your position, you aren't a leader," he said. "I'd like to think if I leave here the decision will be easy for the village board to pluck someone else (from within) and put them in this chair."

Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said McGury has good management skills that would translate to a variety of organizations.

"It's an unusual career twist but I've had three or four different careers in my life so if it makes sense to him and to the park district then go for it," he said. "He's a good police chief and I would hate to see him go, but wish him well."

The park board could pick its new director as early as Aug. 28 when it meets at 6 p.m. at its administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave.