Lake the first to announce his bid for Des Plaines mayor

Mike Lake, who helped lead the referendum to adopt the strong city manager form of government in Des Plaines, has become the first to enter the race to succeed Mayor Tony Arredia, who will step down next year due to term limits.

Lake, 61, ran unsuccessfully for Second Ward alderman in 2003 and 2007, and has held a wide variety of civic posts around town.

He is current vice commander of the American Legion Post 36 and up until recently was vice commander of the VFW Post 2992. He has chaired the city's Consumer Protection Commission for the last four years, is past president of Friends of the Library and has served on the senior center advisory board.

Lake said he worked with Mike Sweeney, currently running for the 33rd District Illinois state Senate seat again Dan Kotowski, on the city manager referendum. He said he understands how the job of mayor should function in that form of government.

The referendum gave the manager more explicit power, including the power to hire and fire department heads, restricting the mayor and aldermen to more of a policy-making role.

"It's working," he said. "I'd like to see it continue to work."

Lake, a retired mold-maker by profession, has lived in Des Plaines more than 30 years.

He said over the years he has made friends and connections that should help him run a stronger race than when he sought the aldermanic post.

I've learned. I've grown," he said. "I'm a little wiser in the political battlefield."