Baldermann steps down from Metra board post

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who announced this month he was running for a state representative seat, stepped down from his position on the Metra Board of Directors.

Baldermann said he officially resigned from the board about two weeks ago, primarily to give himself more time to focus on the campaign. Incumbent state Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, announced earlier this summer she would not see reelection in 2020.

The campaign is “going to be a little more time consuming,” he said.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr. appointed Baldermann to the position in May 2018. Baldermann said he had spoken to Walsh to let him know he was stepping down.

During his time on the Metra board, Baldermann said he wanted to bring his sense of fiscal responsibility to a department that has its challenges with dire needs to upgrade decades-old cars.

He touted the fact that Metra declined to raise its fares for this year as a matter of fairness to customers. He also commended the rest of the board and Metra’s employees.

Baldermann added that his actions were also not dictated by the “dirty politics” he accused a conservative online news outlet of playing by labeling him a “quadruple dipper” in reference to his pension from his time with the Chicago Ridge Police Department and income from multiple public jobs.

“That’s not real journalism,” he said.