Crystal Lake Mayor Sounds Off On New Year Goals

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — As we look back on 2025 and ahead to 2026, Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian says he has high hopes for the New Year.

We reached out to Haleblian to get his thoughts on what is in store for the city in the coming year. Here is what he had to say.

What are your top three priorities for the year ahead? And what would make 2026 a "standout" year?

Continue on the trajectory as the leading municipality in Northern Illinois. Continue to maintain our culture of thinking outside the box for the benefit of our citizens. Bring in programs, events, art, physical fitness, walkability to our community. Every year our community just gets better. We need view generational investments such as a cutting edge library community center.

What was a big "game changer" or lesson from 2025 for you that is helping to shape your strategy and decisions in 2026?

The incredible success of Waters Edge and Enclave demonstrates that there is a strong desire by many to live in our community. We need to hold developers to a higher standard of our requirements to develop within our community and at the same time work within realistic terms so all parties succeed.

What barriers currently stand in the way of meeting your goals?

Hands down unfunded mandates from the state and feds that put an incredible strain on our budgeting. We are creative, we are innovative to get the job done. It's easier for the states and feds to put the squeeze on the municipalities than for them to have the guts to go to the public. It's maddening.

When it comes to personal growth, what specific leadership skills or behaviors are you focused on developing this year to better serve your team and community?

We are so fortunate to have a council that is composed of very smart individuals. We don't always agree, nor should we, but we are respectful of each other and of our constituents. Decisions are not made hastily and we all take the words we hear seriously. As in any decision, some will agree and others disagree, but all will know we dealt with the facts.

We don't have special interests or hidden agendas. The only interest we have is what we feel is right for the 40,000 residents of Crystal Lake. I feel as Mayor that I have benefitted and grown exponentially by having the opportunity to meet so many incredible people in our community.

As Mayor of Crystal Lake, I feel like I'm the luckiest man alive. This was never a goal, dream, or blip on the screen, but here I am, and I'll do the best damn job I know how to do.