Meet Arlington Heights Mayoral Candidate Ron Drake

Ron Drake, who led a suburb of Phoenix as its mayor for six years, hopes to take the reins and lead his current hometown of Arlington Heights.

Drake is in the running to be the next village board president, which would make him the village’s first new mayor in more than 20 years.

“I think it’s in the best interest of the community that there’s an influx of new people,” Drake said, “New blood, new ideas and to just see a change in people.”

A newcomer to village’s political scene, Drake is no stranger to local government. Drake, 54, served as the mayor of Avondale, Ariz., a town similar to the size Arlington Heights, from 2000 until 2006.

While Drake has not been a part of the Arlington Heights government or attended village board meetings as of yet, Drake is confident in his ability to lead. “It’s not a disadvantage,” Drake said, “I understand the issues and it’s pretty clear the issues the community is facing.”

The mayoral candidate said he is in touch with the community and follows the board meeting on the Internet.  With his past experience, Drake said if elected, he would be ready to jump in and get to work. 

A Mount Prospect native and John Hersey High School graduate, Drake returned to the Northwest suburbs five years ago after he lost a congressional bid for the U.S. House. Drake and his family settled into Arlington Heights in 2007.

Since then, Drake said he has noticed many issues in the community, issues he believes he could help solve. “I don’t know if I want to change things,” said Drake, “But I think we need to enhance some things.” 

In order to make those enhancements, Drake has come up with a four-point plan: 

• Cap all additional taxes put on citizens of Arlington Heights and relieve taxes where possible
• Improve business climate
• Maintain excellent service
• Set term limits for village board members

“Obviously we need to put a cap on taxes,” Drake said, “We can’t continue this tax burden.”

Drake said he would look to cap, and cut property taxes in the village.  Drake said, “What’s going to happen is people are going to get taxed out of their home and that’s just un-American.”

Drake said the community is more and more discouraged that tax increases seem to be the only solution to the village's needs. “That’s what the board is saying, ‘we’re out of options and we’re out of ideas so we have to raise taxes,’” Drake said, “There are other solutions.”

One possible solution, Drake said, would be to improve the village’s business climate. As mayor, Drake said he would work to fill empty businesses downtown and along Arlington Heights Road and Rand Road to help build a thriving economy.

“Arlington Heights is going to be open for business should I become mayor,” said Drake.

With additional businesses, Drake said sales tax revenues would help to take the burden off the residents in Arlington Heights.

During his time in office in Avondale, Ariz., Drake said he brought in more than 2 million square feet of new retail space and about 500,000 square feet of commercial space.

Boosting the number of businesses in the town multiplied sale tax revenue from $6 million to $39 million during the six years Drake served as mayor, he said.  

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Drake said, “But the focus has to be bringing in business and looking for those kind of opportunities.”

Drake, who now works on the business side of an advertising company in Chicago, said he has the experience and know-how to bring businesses into Arlington Heights to reduce the property tax burden on residents.

As another tactic to lower the property taxes Arlington Heights, Drake said he would work closely with other taxing agencies in the village, like the school districts and park district.

“We really need to take a holistic approach, because we need to take the burden off of all the residents,” Drake said, “We can’t keep going to the people.”

The village is responsible for 11.5 percent the property tax bill in Arlington Heights; the rest is divided among other taxies bodies, with the school districts getting the largest piece of the property tax pie.

While continuing the excellent service the village has provided under Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder, Drake said he would like to see term limits put in place for board members, currently there are none.

“It’s not a knock on the people involved or what they’ve done,” Drake said, “I just don’t think this should be a monarchy.”

Complimentary of Mulder and her work as village board president, Drake said when he heard Mulder was not running for re-elction he decided it was the right time to step up and send a new leader into office. 

“It’s never an overhaul," Drake said, "But it’s beneficial to allow different members of the community to take part of the leadership.” 

In what's currently a two-party race, Drake faces 22-year village board member Thomas Hayes in the April 2013 consolidated election. 

Check back with Arlington Heights Patch tomorrow to learn more about Drake’s opponent.