Richard McLaughlin: 2025 candidate for Island Lake mayor

Bio

Office sought: Island Lake mayor

City: Island Lake

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired military

Previous offices held: Mayor since 2021; Island Lake Trustee from 2019-21

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? Also, what makes you the best candidate for the position?

I was elected village trustee in 2019 and then mayor in 2021 to restore integrity to the village after years of mismanagement.

I have taken my responsibility very seriously and have diligently worked to restore accountability, grow economic development, invest in infrastructure, grow community involvement, restore our lake, and work toward diversifying the village’s housing supply to bring more affordable options to the residents.

I have an extensive list of accomplishments from my first term as mayor and I will build on those achievements in a second term as mayor.

What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

The diversification of our tax base, infrastructural investment, lake restoration, and adding more housing that residents can afford will be my priorities in a second term.

We’ve made significant strides on those fronts; however, more work is required. We’ve already added 87 new rooftops, secured over $200k for parkland and shoreline restoration, reinvested gaming revenues into park and lake maintenance, added new playground equipment, updated basketball courts, and opened an 18-hole disc golf course.

It's important for the residents to have a sense of community. We’ve worked to make sure all our residents feel included in village activities. My administration has fostered our traditional events and added new ones. Some of our community gatherings include:

• Lakefest: We expanded this to three days of rides, live music, and fun.

• Oktoberfest: We hosted our fifth Oktoberfest along with our third annual Dachsund Derby.

• Cardboard Sled Race: We held our second annual sled event at Converse Park Hill.

• Senior Center Dinners: We hosted our second annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners at our local senior centers.

• Carp Fest: This year we hosted the third annual event with a new Kids Fishing Derby

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

I have worked tirelessly to ensure our village’s budget is balanced, responsible, and reflective of our community’s priorities. Every dollar spent has been carefully evaluated to maximize efficiency while maintaining the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve.

Through strategic planning, we have invested in critical infrastructure, public safety, and economic development without placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers.

We have sought grants, partnerships, and cost-saving measures to stretch our resources further, ensuring financial stability for years to come. Transparency and fiscal responsibility have guided every decision, and I am proud of the progress we have made in strengthening our village’s financial future.

I will continue to work hard to make sure every tax dollar is spent wisely and that our village remains strong, sustainable, and positioned for long-term success.

In a second term as mayor, I will invest in additional infrastructural improvements and the diversification of our housing supply.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

Securing a source of limitless clean drinking water for current and future use is a top infrastructural priority. We have started the process to build onto the CLCJAWA (Lake Michigan water) pipeline that will bring a reliable supply of fresh drinking water to the residents.

As a result of careful budgeting and planning, Island Lake is positioned to be the next municipality to join the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency.

All of our infrastructure projects have been well planned including the funding source for them. Some of the infrastructural projects already completed and scheduled include:

• Replaced over 800 residential water meters with another 2200 scheduled for replacement.

• Island Drive Bridge is slated for replacement in 2027 Build Back America

• Completed a major remodel of the Island Lake Village Hall, optimizing unused space.

• Paved and curbed the streets in Porten Subdivision, Portsmith, Newbury Village, Burnett Road, and Eastway Drive.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

I am a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps and have spent my career helping people cultivate their leadership skills. I believe in empowering people around me and nurturing the ability for other people to develop their leadership skills.

We must be willing to hear different perspectives and not be afraid to compromise for the betterment of the village. Big initiatives cannot be achieved unless we all work together. I believe in the saying “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

The village could benefit from additional recreational facilities that cultivate resident involvement and community building. The village could use a sports center and I intend to work on making that a reality in my next term as mayor.