Mayor Eugene Siegel

Gene was born on April 5th in Chicago, the eldest of five children, to Stanley and Stella Szczygielski (Siegel).   He attended St. Turibius grammar school, Gage Park High School, National College of Naprapathy, and numerous seminars through the Chicago Colleges and Loyola University.  Gene was married to his late wife Virginia for 42 years, and remarried in 2001 to his current wife Linda (nee Wilkins).  With his remarriage, Gene added Linda's son John Herring and grandson John to the children he had with Virginia - his sons Gary, Andrew, and Matthew, daughter Janet and four grandchildren, Steven, Bradley, Victoria, Alexandria, and Abigail.  Gene has been a resident of Chicago Ridge for the past 53 years, and has been involved in public service for the last 47 years, and he first became involved in politics in 1961 and was:

Appointed
1963-1971 Deputy Coroner for Cook County Coroner’s Office
1971-1986 Assistant Chief - Cook County Sheriff’s Office
1987-1993 Administrative Assistant - State Treasurer’s Office

Elected
Gene was elected as part-time Mayor of Chicago Ridge in 1975 to fill an unexpired term. He was re-elected in 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, and in 1993, was elected as a full-time Mayor, and was re-elected in 1997, 2001, and 2005.

Mayor Siegel was a member of the Chicago Cook County Criminal Justice Commission for six years; one of two mayors in all of Cook County serving in that capacity. He also is a past Associate of the Crisis Center for South Suburbia.

At the present time, Mayor Siegel is serving as Vice-Chairman of the Southwest Council of Mayors, and is the Legislative Chairman for the Southwest Conference of Local Government. He is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Municipal League and on the Executive Committee, was elected First Vice President, and was elected President of the Illinois Municipal League in September 2004 and served as President until September 2005. Gene was a past member of the Midway Airport Task Force, currently is a member of the Cook County Advisory Board on Community Development Block Grant Applications; was one of the founders of Southwest Central Dispatch and is now a member of the Executive Board of Directors. He was on the Chicago Area Transportation Study for Northeast, Illinois and was a member of the Executive Committee and one of the original members of Southwest Local Government. He is also a member of the Mayor's Caucus and serves on the Executive Committee for the Mayor's Caucus. In addition, he was one of two Mayors representing Illinois on the National League of Cities Council in Washington, D.C.

Gene Siegel’s accomplishments as Mayor of Chicago Ridge for the past 34 years:

Gene created a solvent tax base by instrumental in the development of the Chicago Ridge Mall in 1981, and the Commons of Chicago Ridge in 1988. These developments allow his administration to hold the line on property owner’s taxes and still permit such Village improvements as the improvement of Ridgeland Avenue to establish commercial land use, the installation of an adequate water system with a two million gallon reservoir and a pumping station, the street lighting, a Senior Citizen Center, the installation of traffic signals at hazardous intersections, creation of a full-time Fire Department/Paramedics, doubled the Police Department, and the establishment of a Youth Service Bureau with a Youth Director to counsel families and their children 7 days a week. In March 1994, the Home Rule referendum passed which put the Village in a strong financial posture. Since 1997, the Village has been able to refund surplus funds to the homeowners of Chicago Ridge. In September 1998 the Village was the 1st Municipality to pass an Ordinance prohibiting the use and sale of a laser pointer by anyone under 18 years of age. By doing so, Chicago Ridge became a model for other communities nationwide to implement their own such Ordinance. In his 34 years as Mayor, Gene has also been instrumental in seeing many bills become law.

At the present time, the Industrial Park, located on 130 acres, continues to grow with new business. The Mayor’s most recent accomplishments include the Public Works Facility located in the Industrial Park, and the New Municipal Complex, that holds the Village Administrative Offices, Police Department, Youth Service Bureau, Senior Citizen Center and plays host to many community organizations. This 60,000 square foot facility was built at no cost to the taxpayers of Chicago Ridge. The Mayor was deeply honored when the Village Board named the new facility the Eugene L. Siegel Municipal Complex for his quarter of a century (34 years) of dedication and leadership to the Citizens of Chicago Ridge.

Since 1984, Mayor Siegel holds an annual Children's Christmas Party at the Chicago Ridge Mall Theatres that includes a Movie, Refreshments, a Christmas Stocking filled with candy, a toy, and a visit from Santa. This event is not paid for at Village Taxpayers expense. Also, since 1984, he has spent over $134,00 for his Children's Christmas Parties and Youth Sports Activities including the Scouting Program. In addition, he annually hosts a Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon for the Senior Citizens in our community, also not paid for at Village Taxpayers Expense. All expenses for these events are paid for by the Citizens for Mayor Gene Siegel Committee.

During his term as Mayor, spanning 4 decades, Gene has always maintained an "open door policy" for all of his constituents and employees.

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Village of Chicago Ridge
10455 S. Ridgeland Avenue
Chicago Ridge, Illinois  60415
(708) 425-7700

This page last modified 10/18/2008 .
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