3 Candidates Face Off To Become Arlington Heights Mayor: 2025 Election

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — For the past 34 years, there has been one consistent on the Arlington Heights Village Board — former trustee and current Mayor Thomas Hayes. That is all about to change with Tuesday's consolidated election.

Hayes, who has been Village President since 2013, announced last June he was not seeking reelection. Soon thereafter, trustees Tom Schwingbeck Jr. and Jim Tinaglia tossed their hats into the ring, followed by Jon Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce.

With the future of the former Arlington International Raceway site remaining a hot topic of conversation, the future mayor will potentially play a major role in either working with the Chicago Bears on their eventual move to Arlington Heights or rethinking what to do with the 326-acre property.

Ahead of the election, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Tinaglia has been an architect and business owner since 1991. He was first elected to the Village Board in 2013. Tinaglia has been endorsed by Hayes for Mayor.

"I intend to use all of my professional skills as an architect to help steer the dialog and decision-making toward a win-win development solution that will benefit and support our entire community and surrounding area," Tinaglia said in his Patch questionnaire regarding the future of Arlington Park.

Schwingbeck Jr. has been on the Arlington Heights Village Board since 2019 and previously served as a member of the Village Zoning Board of Appeals. He is owner and president of RLM & Associates, and has over 40 years of engineering and manufacturing experience.

"Another main focus will be to work collaboratively with property owners, staff, Village Board and resident to transform undeveloped real estate including, but not limited to, Arlington Park," Schwingbeck said on his website. "This will be a positive not only for the aesthetics of our community, but to grow revenue and enhance our tax base."

Ridler has been executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce since 2004.

"Arlington Heights thrives when we're united. I want longtime residents and newcomers alike to have a voice," Ridler said on his website. "I’ll bring the community into the conversation as we explore new directions for Arlington Park together. I'll seek to create events town-wide that bring the community together, and open commissions and volunteer opportunities to all."

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