Our choice for Arlington Heights village president

Even without the complication of a potential NFL stadium in the village, the establishment of Arlington Heights’ next village leadership comes at a pivotal time for the town’s future.

Arlington Heights faces far-reaching development issues in its bustling downtown area and at least two major sites along Arlington Heights Road in the south end of the village. It is also wrestling with goals of expanding affordability in housing, as well as matters of taxation, aging infrastructure and commercial growth that are common to nearly every town in the Northwest suburbs. The introduction of a potential $5 billion Chicago Bears-centered development on the former site of the Arlington International Racecourse, however, presents a uniquely transformative opportunity.

So, the person chosen to lead the village at such a momentous time as village president must bring a strong blend of municipal government experience, business acumen, determination and leadership ability. And, with the Bears still very much in the suburban picture despite having expressed a preference for a downtown project, Arlington Heights’ next leader must have the determination and tenacity to seize this critical moment.

Fortunately, all three candidates vying for the position of village president demonstrate the qualities needed at the top now. That does not mean, though, that there are not important distinctions among them.

The candidates are:

• Jon Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Arlington Economic Alliance ;

• Thomas F. Schwingbeck Jr., a self-employed manufacturing executive, former member of the village’s zoning board and a trustee in his second term on the village board; and

• Jim Tinaglia, an Arlington Heights architect and three-term trustee on the village board.

All are qualified and sincere.

Schwingbeck says he is retiring from his business and, if elected, he intends to spend full-time on village affairs. He insists this is not a play for making the job a full-time paid position, and to that extent, his show of determination is impressive. We’re not sure, however, that in practice such an approach automatically implies that the time, intensity and determination of the other candidates will be left wanting.

Indeed, both Tinaglia and Ridler demonstrate an intimate understanding of the vast array of issues facing the village, the Bears situation in particular, and clear-headed, village-oriented visions for managing them.

As executive director of the chamber, Ridler has the kind of executive experience needed in a town’s CEO, as well as the insights that come from working with a board of directors not unlike the constitution of a village board. He also manages chambers in Rolling Meadows and Palatine. He's smart, articulate, very familiar with the details of issues and clearly cares about the village. He's given a lot of thought to a variety of development, taxation and quality-of-life issues on the horizon, not just those matters involving Arlington Park and the Bears.

Tinaglia likewise has business-leadership experience and brings a strong business-minded approach to issues. In three terms on the Arlington Heights Village Board, he has emerged as a vocal, yet collaborative leader on matters ranging from sensitive housing proposals to complex road, sewer and other infrastructure matters. Indeed, Tinaglia offers a candidate with all the qualities of his opponents, plus longer and deeper direct experience both with the Bears issue and with other diverse matters that could come before the board.

All the candidates are strong. Ridler's work with the chambers and the business insights it has brought are especially compelling, and we very much like his assertive approach to attracting the Bears. But in the end, we find the depth and breadth of Tinaglia's qualities are unmatched and best suited to the demands of the times.

He has our endorsement.