Mayor Siegel, Chicago Ridge, Illinois (IL)

Mayor Eugene Siegel

Chicago Ridge 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 recently married to Linda Wilkins from Florida. Gene and his late wife, Virginia, have four children, Gary, Janet, Andrew & Matthew, and four grandchildren, Steven, Bradley, Victoria, and Alexandria. Gene has been a resident of Chicago Ridge for the past 44 years. Gene has been involved in public service for the last 40 years (his entire adult life) and 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 to a four year term. This past April, Gene was re-elected for another four year term.

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. Also, he is serving as Vice-President and a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Municipal League and was recently appointed to the Executive Committee, representing nearly 1300 Villages and Cities in IL; a member of the Midway Airport Task Force; 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 on the Board of Directors. He is on the Chicago Area Transportation Study for Northeast, IL and is currently 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 has been appointed to serve on the Legislative Committee for the Mayor’s Caucus.

Gene Siegel’s accomplishments as Mayor of Chicago Ridge for the past 25 years:

Gene created a solvent tax base by spear-heading 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 paving of all streets with storm sewers, curbs, gutters and modern street lighting, a Senior Citizen Center, the installation of traffic signals at hazardous intersections, 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 25 years as Mayor, Gene has also been instrumental in passing bills in the Legislation.

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 (25 years) of dedication and leadership to the Citizens of Chicago Ridge.

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

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

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