If you live in the Northwest Suburbs, you've definitely seen him. Maybe it was at the Mane Event or just grabbing a coffee. Being the Mayor of Arlington Heights IL isn't just about ribbon cuttings and wearing a suit to village board meetings. It's a complicated, often thankless job that involves balancing the nostalgia of a classic "City of Good Neighbors" vibe with the massive, looming reality of multi-billion dollar developments.
Thomas "Tom" Hayes has been at the helm for a long time. Since 2013, actually.
He isn't some career politician who lives in a bubble. He’s a local guy—a West Point grad, an Army veteran, and a practicing attorney. When you talk to people around town, the consensus is usually that he’s steady. Steady is good when your town is basically the center of the universe for Illinois sports news lately. But being steady doesn't mean things are quiet. Far from it.
The Bear in the Room: The Chicago Bears and the Fairgrounds
You can’t talk about the Mayor of Arlington Heights IL without talking about the Chicago Bears. It’s the elephant—or the bear—in the room. When the team bought the 326-acre Arlington Park property, the whole town basically held its breath.
Honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster.
One week, it looks like the team is definitely moving in. The next, they’re flirting with the City of Chicago again about a lakefront stadium. Through all this, Hayes has had to walk a very thin tightrope. He has to protect the taxpayers. He can't just give the Bears whatever they want in terms of tax breaks, because the people living in those brick bungalows near Euclid Avenue would lose their minds if their property taxes spiked to fund a billionaire's stadium.
Hayes has been firm on one point: any deal has to be "win-win."
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He’s repeatedly told the press that while the village wants the Bears, they don't need the Bears to survive. That’s a bold stance. It’s about leverage. If the Bears move in, it’s the biggest development in the history of the village. If they don't? Hayes and the board have to figure out what happens to a massive, empty plot of land that used to be the crown jewel of the community. It’s high-stakes poker, and Hayes is the one holding the cards for the residents.
Keeping the "Downtown" Vibe Alive
If you haven't been to downtown Arlington Heights on a Saturday night in the summer, you're missing out. It’s packed. The "Al Fresco" dining setup, which started as a desperate move during the pandemic to save restaurants, has become a permanent staple.
This was a big win for the current administration.
They realized that people actually like walking around, sitting outside, and not having cars zooming past their pasta. It turned a sleepy suburban center into a genuine destination. But it wasn't easy. There was a lot of pushback from shop owners who were worried about losing parking spots. Hayes had to navigate that friction. He’s often the guy who has to listen to the complaints about parking for three hours at a board meeting before getting to the "fun" stuff.
It’s about the tax base. Arlington Heights relies heavily on retail and dining. With malls like Woodfield nearby in Schaumburg, the Mayor of Arlington Heights IL has to make sure the village stays "cool" enough to attract young families who are fleeing the city but still want a walkable lifestyle.
Public Safety and the Veteran Connection
Hayes’ background as an Army officer really shines through in how he handles the police and fire departments. He’s a "law and order" kind of leader, but in a suburban way. You’ll see him at every Memorial Day ceremony, and he’s deeply involved with the local VFW and American Legion.
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It’s personal for him.
He often talks about service and duty. This isn't just campaign fluff. It’s how he runs the meetings. He’s formal. He’s polite. He’s rarely the guy who’s going to get into a shouting match on Twitter. In an era where politics feels like a constant cage match, his style is a bit of a throwback. Some people find it a little too traditional, sure. But in a town with a lot of seniors and families, that "boring" stability is exactly why he keeps getting re-elected.
What People Get Wrong About the Mayor’s Power
A lot of folks think the Mayor of Arlington Heights IL is like a king who can just snap his fingers and change the speed limit or lower taxes. That’s not how it works here.
Arlington Heights uses a Manager-Council form of government.
- The Village Manager: This is the person who actually runs the day-to-day operations, hires the staff, and manages the budget.
- The Mayor: Tom Hayes is the presiding officer. He sets the tone, leads the meetings, and acts as the face of the village.
- The Board of Trustees: These are the people who vote on the laws. The Mayor is one vote.
So, when people get mad at Hayes because their street didn't get plowed fast enough, they’re technically yelling at the wrong guy. But he takes it anyway. That’s the job. He’s the lightning rod. Whether it’s a controversial new apartment complex or a dispute over a bike lane, it all ends up on his desk.
The Challenge of Modernization
Arlington Heights is an aging suburb. Not "old" old, but it’s reached a point where the infrastructure needs serious love. We’re talking about sewers, water mains, and roads that were built decades ago.
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Hayes has had to oversee some pretty massive (and expensive) stormwater management projects.
Nobody likes spending millions of dollars on pipes that stay underground where nobody can see them. It’s not "sexy" like a new stadium. But when the heavy Midwest rains hit and your basement stays dry, that’s when you appreciate the boring stuff. He’s been a proponent of incremental growth—adding density near the Metra station to bring in more tax revenue without destroying the "small town" feel that people moved there for in the first place.
Looking Toward the Future
Is Tom Hayes going to be the mayor forever? Probably not. But he’s left a massive footprint. He’s guided the village through the end of the Arlington Park horse racing era, a global pandemic, and a total shift in how people shop and live.
The next few years are going to be the most critical.
The decision on the Bears’ property will define the village for the next fifty years. If it becomes a stadium, the traffic, the noise, and the economy change forever. If it becomes a mixed-use residential area, it’s a different kind of change. Either way, the Mayor of Arlington Heights IL is the person who has to make sure the "Good Neighbors" don't get left behind in the rush for progress.
It’s a balancing act between the past and the future. Hayes seems comfortable in that middle ground. He isn't a flashy "visionary" who makes wild promises. He’s more like a pilot—keeping the plane level while everyone in the back is arguing about where they want to land.
Actionable Insights for Residents and Business Owners
If you want to stay informed or get involved in how Arlington Heights is changing, don't just complain on Facebook. There are actual ways to have an impact on what the Mayor and the Board decide.
- Attend the Village Board Meetings: They happen on the first and third Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall. You can literally stand up during the "citizen communications" portion and tell Tom Hayes exactly what you think.
- Watch the YouTube Stream: If you can't make it in person, the village streams the meetings. It’s the best way to see how decisions about your taxes and your neighborhood are actually made.
- Check the "Discover Arlington" Website: The village is surprisingly good about posting PDF documents of every proposed development. If you're worried about a new building going up near you, the plans are usually public months before a shovel hits the ground.
- Email the Mayor Directly: You can find his contact info on the official village site. He’s known for actually reading his correspondence.
- Participate in Commissions: The village has all sorts of volunteer commissions for things like the arts, housing, and senior citizens. This is where the real "grunt work" of local government happens.
The future of Arlington Heights isn't just up to one guy in a suit. It’s a collective effort, but for now, Tom Hayes is the one holding the gavel. Whether you agree with him or not, his influence on the Northwest Suburbs is undeniable. Keeping an eye on the mayor's office is the only way to know which way the wind is blowing for the "City of Good Neighbors."