Election 2025: Tinley Park Mayoral Candidate Michael Glotz

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park residents in the thick of a quite contentious local election season are likely ready to see it end. With the consolidated election set for April 1, early voting started March 17, and residents can make their picks for the village's next leaders.

Incumbent Mayor Michael Glotz leads his One Tinley Park slate, joined by Village Clerk Nancy O'Connor and trustees William Brady, Dennis Mahoney and Colleen Sullivan.

Glotz's group goes up against Michael Maloney's Tinley Together slate, consisting of clerk candidate Cynthia “Cindy” O’Boyle and trustee candidates Melissa Sanfilippo, Eric Schmidt and Matthew Walsh.

Patch sent questionnaires to candidates, and their answers are now published in their candidate profiles. Early voting began March 17. Find out where and when you can vote ahead of April 1.

Candidate:

Michael Glotz

Campaign website:

One Tinley Park

Office sought:

Mayor

Town/city of residence:

Tinley Park

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

No answer provided.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No answer provided.

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Local 150 Operating Engineer for 21 years

Previous or current elected or appointed office.

Mayor

The most pressing issues facing Tinley Park are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

The most pressing issues facing our Village are keeping crime low, prioritizing fiscal responsibility, economic development, and cleaning up the Tinley Park Mental Health Center. Crime is historically low in Tinley Park as a result of our continuous investment in our first responders. When it comes to fiscal responsibility, we have frozen property taxes for two years in a row while still prioritizing smart investments in our Village. When it comes to the Tinley Park Mental Health Center, we have to make sure it’s cleaned up safely and quickly and then developed into something that ALL residents want to see, with as little cost to the taxpayers as possible. Over the last four years, we have brought $500 million in development to Tinley Park, keeping taxes low for the Village's portion of your bill. We have redeveloped all of Harlem Avenue, 159th Street, the LaGrange Rd corridor, downtown Oak Park Avenue, and 191st and Harlem Avenue.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My experience and preparedness distinguish me from my opponent. After 4 years as a Trustee and 4 years as your Mayor, I know how our Village works. I’ve formed relationships with the key stakeholders in our community and have learned how to get things done. We can’t elect someone with no experience in elected office, who is running with a team of candidates that have deep financial troubles including bankruptcies. That’s the last thing we want or need in Tinley Park. My 8 years of experience serving the people of Tinley Park qualifies me better than anyone to keep leading our Village with a steady hand. The results stand for themself: under Mike Maloney's management of the TPMHC, he got a roughly $37,000 fine from OSHA and was issued 6 serious health violations.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We will keep investing in our public safety and police force, holding the line on taxes, prioritizing smart development, continuing to beautify key areas of our Village, and finally put the issue of the Mental Health Center to rest by resolving it once and for all.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Why should voters trust you?

I am proud of how we froze village property taxes for two years in a row, and brought more jobs to our Village by investing in our businesses. We’ve also beautified key areas of Tinley Park such as the Boulevard at Central Station, Harmony Square, LaGrange Rd corridor, 191st & Harlem corridor, and the redevelopment of Tinley Park Plaza. I’m also proud of founding Tinley Park’s first Labor Advisory Board, giving me a direct line to our workers. And during the pandemic, I co-founded the Tinley Park Citizen Volunteer Committee, which mobilized volunteers to assist over 10,000 senior citizens. I was proudly recognized as the Best Mayor in the Southland for all these and more accomplishments, two years in a row.

After 8 years in office, I have kept my word to the voters of Tinley Park and delivered promised results and change. We have reduced crime, invested in public safety, brought more opportunity and business to the Village, and maintained fiscal discipline. I humbly ask voters for 4 more years so Tinley Park can continue this success.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

My second term will be a success because we will continue to hold the line on taxes, invest in public safety, and bring more opportunity to our Village

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I believe in fiscal responsibility. This means saying no to unnecessary tax increases so that taxpayers can keep more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets. Budgetary responsibility also means prioritizing smart investments that return value to our Village and our residents. I recognize the deeply humbling responsibility of handling public funds and using them to the benefit of all taxpayers.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

Tinley Park is safer than ever, and we have kept our Village a safe place even as crime has skyrocketed across Chicago’s city lines. We have achieved this by hiring dozens of new officers and investing in our police force. Before I became Mayor, we only had 60 sworn police officers. We now have 72 sworn officers, with 5 more in the pipeline. We will continue to make Tinley Park an even safer place to live by further investing in our first responders to ensure they have all the resources they need to continue keeping us safe.

What is your view of the Village's approach to commercial and residential development?

I will continue to push for development that benefits our residents. This includes bringing more small businesses to our town to create more jobs for Tinley Park, as well as supporting reasonable new residential projects, while opposing all efforts to build giant ugly high-rises.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

My approach to development will be the same as it always has been: continuing to beautify and revitalize our Village while bringing jobs to Tinley Park, all while using taxpayer money responsibly.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

With the endorsements of former Mayors Ed Zabrocki and Dave Seaman, I have the trust and confidence of the people who built this Village into what it is. I would be humbled to have your trust and confidence as well to finish the job and keep Tinley Park a great place to live.