River Forest Township Supervisor John Becvar and longtime River Forest Township Assessor Pamela Kende are resigning from their posts this summer saying that it is time for them to retire.
Becvar and Kende made their announcements at the May 12 meeting of the township board. Both were elected to four years terms in 2025 but have decided not to serve out their terms. Becvar will stay in office until the end of August while Kende will serve until June 30.
Becvar has been supervisor, which is the highest ranking position in township government, for only two years but made waves in his short time in office, especially with his controversial and successful effort to wrestle control of the River Forest Civic Center building from the River Forest Community Center.
Kende has been assessor for 21 years. The township assessor does not assess property; rather the position advocates for taxpayers.
About Becvar
Becvar was appointed River Forest Township Supervisor in May of 2024 to replace Carla Sloan who resigned from her post as supervisor after 11 years in the position and with one year left on her term. Before becoming supervisor Becvar had served as township clerk for one year, a post he was also appointed to.
Becvar, who moved to River Forest five years ago, told Wednesday Journal in a telephone interview that he initially intended to serve out his term but decided to retire after his husband took a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) inspired early retirement package last year from his job with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. With his husband retired he thought he should retire too.
“We want to spend more time with our family, we want to travel, we want to enjoy our retirement while our health is OK,” Becvar said.
Becvar and his husband are avid travelers. He has been to 98 countries and he wants to do more traveling while his health is good.
“I’m smart enough to know that when life gives you some opportunities you have to take advantage of them,” Becvar said.
Becvar said he announced his intention to retire months in advance to give the township board adequate time to select a replacement. In announcing his retirement he suggested the board hire a township manager to handle some of the administrative work he has been doing. Other than the elected officials, River Forest Township has only one part-time paid employee, Deputy Assessor Kathy Elliot. In contrast Oak Park Township has 62 employees.
The River Forest Township Supervisor is paid $48,000 annually.
“I did not do this job for the money,” said Becvar who held a variety of high powered corporate jobs, the last of which was as vice president of finance and chief procurement officer at Groupon, a position he left in 2020.
Becvar shook up sleepy River Forest Township government and made waves in his two years as supervisor, mostly in his role as the head of the Board of Managers of the River Forest Civic Center Authority. By law River Forest Township Board members also serve as the Board of Managers for the River Forest Civic Center.
Over the past year, Becvar has led a divisive and controversial, but ultimately successful, effort to wrest control of the Civic Center building and leases from the River Forest Community Center, which is the largest tenant in the Civic Center building. For decades the Community Center had handled the management of the building and sublet most of the spaces that it did not use.
Last year, after some crowded and emotional public meetings and months of tough negotiations, the Board of Managers and the Community Center reached an agreement which allows the Board of Managers, essentially the township, to manage the building and handle all the leases while keeping the Community Center as the largest tenant in the Civic Center.
Becvar’s aggressive approach was resented by many old timers and Community Center supporters. But Becvar said structural changes in management of the building were necessary because the building is about 70 years old and needs lots of work, including a new roof, and the old organizational structure was not conducive to raising the money necessary to preserve the building.
“Obviously there’s been a lot of controversy about what’s happened with the building but I believe firmly that this building is a very valuable asset for the community,” Becvar said noting that he wants to building to last for decades to come.
“I have brought to light the need to raise the money,” Becvar said. “Without creating this awareness people would not be aware of the financial situation of the building and how it’s been historically been run (and) what challenges are ahead to make sure it remains a valuable asset to the community for the long term.”
Becvar, who declined to reveal his age but who graduated from high school in 1989, said even after leaving the supervisor position he plans to be involved in the township as a volunteer as time permits.
“It’s not that I’m walking away from the township; I’m walking away from this position and the responsibilities but I will continue to be involved even after the end of August in supporting the township to the best of my abilities,” Becvar said.
Later in the summer, perhaps in August, the township board will choose a replacement to serve out Becvar’s term which runs until 2029. The only legal requirement for supervisor is that someone be a registered voter in River Forest Township and has lived in the township for at least one year.
River Forest seems to have a tradition of appointing the township clerk to fill out terms of supervisors who resign before their terms are up. If that pattern holds current River Forest Township Clerk Mark Hosty could be the next supervisor. Hosty was just appointed township clerk six months ago to replace Maragret Detmer who resigned as clerk to spend more time with her family. But Hosty is experienced in local government having served for 16 years, from 1999 until 2015 when he was defeated when he ran for a fifth term, on the Forest Park Village Council.
Hosty said it was premature to say whether he would apply for the position because the township board has a lot to discuss noting the decision as to whom the next supervisor will be is totally up to the township board.
About Kende
Kende, 65, said after 21 years as township assessor she just decided it was time to retire.
“I’m stepping down because it’s been over 20 years and I’m not getting any younger and it seems like the right time for me,” she said.
Kende became township assessor in 2005 after working for a couple of years under former assessor Rogue Weiland.
“She was a fabulous teacher; she knew her stuff cold,” Kende said.
Kende had worked as a graphic artist but enjoyed the work of township assessor. The township assessor doesn’t assess any property but rather works more as taxpayer advocate helping property owners file appeals and file for exemptions. The township assessor also educates property owners about the complicated Cook County property tax system and does other administrative work.
“I’m very proud of how the office is run and how we’ve moved it into the future and how many people we’ve helped and it’s hard to give up but it’s time,” Kende said. “Sometimes you just have to not work so hard.”
Kende said that she enjoyed being the township assessor and especially treasured the personal relationships that she formed working as assessor.
“You get to know these people and it’s lovely,” Kende said. “I really enjoyed the people.”
Kende will not stop working entirely. She also works a private yacht captain for five yacht owners.
“It’s fun; I love it,” Kende said.
In her emotional retirement announcement at the township board meeting, Kende recommended that Elliott, her deputy assessor, succeed her. While Elliot is likely to be appointed by the township board to replace Kende the board is now accepting applications for the township assessor position.
Those interested in being considered for the position of township assessor should apply by sending a letter of interest to Clerk@RiverForestTownship.org.
The River Forest Township Assessor’s annual salary is $51,299.