Mayor McLeod

The Official Website of the Mayor of Hoffman Estates

From Re-election Announcement - September 10, 2004

My Goals and Accomplishments:

As I stated in my re-election announcement at the Mayoral Ball on September 10, 2004, I became mayor due to the untimely death of my friend mayor Mike O’Malley. Though I had never sought this position, I knew what was required of me. I had to lead our community and provide a vision for the future.

I entered this office during a difficult financial period and successfully lead our village through it without reducing services or significantly raising property taxes or other fees.

But more than that, I proposed a comprehensive economic development program promoting business retention, the creation of a business improvement district on Roselle Road the hiring of an Economic Development Director and the creation of new marketing strategies for Hoffman Estates.

Results of these strategies are readily apparent. A new Mercedes dealership, the opening of the Hilton and Marriott hotels, the Stonegate Conference Center, Leopardo Construction Company headquarters, an Aldi, an Infiniti dealership coming soon, and Rohrman Motors temporary use for the next several years of the old Lexus dealership site.

A leader must be inclusive, not exclusive. I have made a practice of including a village trustee at all major meetings I have with prospective developers and others. No mayor I ever served with operated in this fashion. It is good public policy and necessary to ensure seamless succession. All village board members need to be informed.

To further that goal, email access was extended to all the trustees at my direction and laptops provided to ensure that our citizens may interact with all their elected officials.

I seek to televise our meetings on our cable access channel 6. Open transparent government is my goal.

The village web site has been improved. We now have payments on line, but frankly, I see it as a work in progress that needs improvement.

As mayor, I seek out opportunities to interact singly and in groups with citizens and business owners. I attend many meetings and events, conduct neighborhood meetings like the recent one in western Hoffman Estates, and I attend virtually all block parties.

I am available 24/7.

A mayor must interact successfully with others, fellow mayors, other government officials and business, et al.

After 40 years of acrimony, I successfully negotiated and the village board approved a boundary agreement with South Barrington that added 60 acres of retail and commercially zoned property to our village and the dismissal of a lawsuit threatening the construction of a new Meijers store. Under my leadership, the village has successfully concluded boundary agreements with Streamwood and East Dundee and worked cooperatively with district U-46, resulting in the opening of two new and previously constructed schools to serve our resident in west Hoffman Estates.

Under my leadership, the village has been successful in being granted funding for the many road improvement projects. Through Speaker Mike Madigan, I was successful in securing a $150,000 grant to study the feasibility of a full interchange at I-90 and Barrington roads.

I have been selected by my fellow mayors to chair the steering committee for the Star Line rail proposal, the most significant transportation initiative for the northwest corridor since the building of the northwest tollway. This line will have a huge and beneficial impact for our businesses and our residents.

I have served as chair of the NWMC economic development committee, the legislative committee and serve as a member of the Schaumburg regional airport board.

Our village manager, village attorney, and I met in Washington, DC, with representatives of the U.S. postal service in our efforts to secure our own unique zip codes in Hoffman Estates. This will ensure that our residents and businesses will no longer suffer the inconvenience and loss and delays of mail and other deliveries and a loss of revenue that the village should be receiving. 

A mayor must help foster a sense of community. At my urging, the Celebrations Committee was created. This committee secured the banners you see throughout the community, the holiday ornament we issue each year, sponsor our holiday celebration each November and plan events like the September 19th 45th anniversary celebration at village hall, the September 11 Celebration and the salute our troops event.

Additionally, at my request, the village board has granted use of the old library space at village hall as the home of the new Hoffman Estates historical museum that was unveiled on September 19, 2004. We have an obligation to future generations to conserve our history.

Hoffman Estates is poised on the cusp of a new era. The village is a much bigger player in regional and state affairs than it has ever been, but much more work needs to be done.

I work every day to earn your trust and to have the privilege to lead our community. I will seek another term as your mayor.

I believe my record of achievement as mayor and previously as a trustee and my ability to lead have earned me the right to seek re-election.

I will take my case to the people.

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