Aledo, IL – With the April 1st mayoral election approaching, Aledo Mayor Chris Hagloch is making his case for re-election, highlighting his 12 years in office and the progress he says the city has made under his leadership. Hagloch, who first became mayor in 2013, is being challenged by Jay Doherty.
During a recent interview, Mayor Hagloch reflected on his tenure, pointing to downtown revitalization efforts, infrastructure improvements, and long-term development projects as key achievements.
“When I first ran, one of my biggest goals was to bring life back to downtown Aledo,” Hagloch said. “We’ve made great strides with projects like 353 Court and Market Plaza, and we’re seeing a renewed energy in our business district.”
Hagloch emphasized the multi-use path project, which started in 2016, as a major initiative. The city has received multiple grants to expand pedestrian and bike-friendly pathways, with hopes of eventually creating a full loop around Aledo.
“If we can complete the loop, it will connect key parts of town, from Walmart to the ballparks, and encourage a more active community,” Hagloch noted.
Another priority for Hagloch is housing development, including the Sponsor’s Edition project, which focuses on higher-end homes. However, he also expressed interest in working with developers to bring affordable housing options to Aledo in the near future.
In recent years, the city has also seen significant public space improvements, including the completion of Market Plaza— a hub for community gatherings and events. With the Aledo Opera House set to open this soon, Hagloch believes these projects will help attract more visitors and strengthen the local economy.
“We want to keep bringing people into Aledo,” he said. “With food trucks, small events, and continued downtown improvements, we’re creating a place where people want to visit, shop, and invest.”
As the election nears, Hagloch is asking voters to support his vision for continued growth.
“If you like the direction Aledo is heading and the progress we’ve made, I’d appreciate your support on April 1st,” he said.
The Aledo mayoral election will take place on Tuesday, April 1st.
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(Transcript)
Welcome to Focus. Terry James here with Aledo Mayor Chris Hagloch, and as you’ve probably heard, there is a mayoral election coming up on April 1st. Several important things are on the ballot, including the race for mayor if you are an Aledo resident.
I wanted to talk to you a little bit about your history because you started as Mayor of Aledo in 2013, but you actually were in public service as a council member before that, right?
I actually served six years on the council before my mayoral term started. In 2011, Mayor Breeden was in office at the time, and I served with him on the council. He came to me at the end of his term and said, I really don’t have any interest in moving forward. I just wanted to get everything going in the right direction again and was hoping that maybe you would be interested in stepping up.
I thought about it for a little while and said, You know what? That’s probably my next step if I want things to continue progressing and moving forward. So I appreciated him coming to me and asking. I ran in 2013, was elected, and have been serving as mayor ever since.
One of the things I’ve noticed since you became mayor is how the town has been changing for the better. We’ve been on a progressive path—things are starting to turn around. A downtown that people were once very critical of now holds much hope for the future.
That was one of my priorities when I ran for mayor—figuring out how to revitalize downtown and make it a destination again. We wanted people to have a place where they could shop and enjoy their evenings. When I was a young man, we used to come downtown on Friday and Saturday nights and go to a bunch of different stores.
We understand that retail may not always be the driving force it once was, but if there’s another way to bring downtown back to life, that was part of my goal. A few years back, we brought in 353 Court for revitalization. I encouraged WJ Albertson to pursue a building he owned at the time, and I never imagined that today, he would own as many buildings as he does and that we’d be progressing as well as we are.
Looking Ahead
So, Mayor Hagloch, as your current term comes to an end, what are some of your priorities if re-elected?
To be honest, the multi-use path has been a major focus of mine for a long time. In 2016, we received a multi-use path grant, which the state helped write for us. The first path went out to Walmart, and from there, we continued to expand year after year. We’ve been fortunate to receive additional grants, and though I don’t have the exact dollar amount, we’ve been able to make significant progress.
One of my long-term goals is to create a full loop around the city. Ideally, people could take a bike ride from Walmart, all the way around town, up to the ballparks on the north side, and back again.
Another major priority is housing. We are actively working on Sponsor’s Edition, which some might see as catering to higher-end homes. However, my goal is to work with developers to find additional areas where we can build affordable housing and create more available lots. That’s another major project I’m working on.
So as Sponsor’s Edition develops, could we see more housing projects announced in the near future?
Absolutely. It’s already in the works, though it may be a year or so before we make an official announcement. But yes, that is definitely something we’re focused on.
I also want to continue the work we’ve started downtown. We have some fantastic projects in progress that will benefit the community, and I want to encourage that momentum. There are a few things in the pipeline that I hope will come to fruition soon.
The Impact of Market Plaza
During your most recent term, Market Plaza was completed, which many people know as the Central Park parking lot. Do you see Market Plaza, the Aledo Opera House, and Central Park improvements helping to bring more people into the community?
Absolutely. With the Opera House opening this summer and Market Plaza now fully operational, we’ve also completed the necessary wiring to support food trucks. That’s going to completely change the atmosphere in the community.
We’ll be able to have small gatherings on weekends, bring in a couple of food trucks, and create a more vibrant downtown experience. It doesn’t always have to be a large event, but if we can establish something once or twice a month that draws in 500 people, it will significantly support our local businesses.
Each visitor contributes to the local economy, and as we continue to expand housing and other developments, we aim to strengthen the tax base. If we can do that, maybe one day we’ll even be in a position to lower property taxes for residents.
Final Thoughts
Mayor Chris Hagloch, the election is April 1st. Any final thoughts for voters as they make their decision?
Sure. If you believe that over the past 12 years, Aledo has progressed, that things are moving forward, and that you like the direction our community is heading, then I would ask for your support on April 1st.
Let’s keep that momentum going.
Mayor Chris Hagloch, Mayor of Aledo, we appreciate your time today.