Arlington Heights Bids Farewell to Longtime Mayor

Arlington Heights residents will get to share their memories and wish Mayor Arlene Mulder good luck as she retires.

An open house will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 28 at village hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.

Resident Lori Harp helped organize the public open house for Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder along with a committee of 14 people made up of friends and political allies.

“Our discussion centered around the fact Mayor Mulder has been very inclusive versus exclusive,” Harp said. “We wanted to think of a way for anybody in town to come by and say goodbye.”

Mulder will preside over her last meeting in late April. She is retiring and a new mayor will take office on May 6.

The mayor has been on the board for 32 years and served as village mayor for 20 years. She announced her retirement late last year and decided not to run for reelection.

Today’s election has three candidates - Trustee Thomas Hayes, Mark Hellner and Ron Drake - vying for Mulder’s seat.

Harp worked on Mulder’s first campaign 20 years ago. The two served on a PTA council in District 25 and became friends. Both are from California and had children about the same age.

Mulder’s greatest gifts are she really listens and she really cares, Harp said.

“For 20 years, she governed from her heart and with love, which was very obvious in any conversation you had with her,” she said.

“She has been so much a participating in this community. We’ve been so lucky to have her attend anything from a Scouting events to PTA events, PTO events and church events,” Harp said. “Because of that, she got to hear what the community had to say and really incorporated the community’s opinions into larger decisions.”

“I think the fact she was out there and so involved in the community on a daily basis, it really strengthened what we are as a community,” Harp said. “Anyone who wanted to get involved could get involved.”

The open house will be informal but there will be a few announcements at 3 p.m., she said. People can sign a guest book and leave Mulder a message. Light refreshments will be served.