Mayor Arlene J. Mulder

Arlene J. Mulder is Village President (Mayor) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, one of the largest and most vibrant suburban communities in the Chicago area. In 1979, an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Arlington Heights Park District Board of Commissioners started Mayor Mulder’s record of public service. In 1981, she was elected to the park board and served as commissioner and president through 1991.  Mayor Mulder then served as a village trustee before being elected to her first four-year term as Village President in 1993. She was re-elected in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

She is a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for Arlington Heights on the local, state and national levels. Mayor Mulder has gained the respect of numerous other elected officials for her talent, dedication and ability to effectively build consensus to address difficult issues.

In 1997, Mayor Mulder was elected by other local government leaders in the Chicago area to serve as chair of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, a regional commission created to help solve the aircraft noise problems at the “World’s Busiest Airport.” She has been re-elected to that position every year since and is now an internationally recognized leader on issues of aircraft noise mitigation. She won the prestigious 2005 Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award for her work on the issue of reducing aircraft noise. Mayor Mulder is also a regional leader in efforts to oppose excessive use of train horns in populated areas.

Fiscal responsibility in local government and economic development initiatives have been hallmarks of Mayor Mulder’s administration. Her leadership in economic development has been instrumental in Arlington Heights earning the 1999 Burnham award for excellence in planning from the Metropolitan Planning Council; National League of Cities James C. Howland Award for Municipal Enrichment (2000); and the American Planning Association Award (2001) for implementation of the central business district plan.

Arlene Mulder is Vice President of the Illinois Municipal League and has served on its Legislative and Public Safety Committees. She serves as a trustee on the Executive Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, as well as the Executive Board of the Chicago Metropolitan Mayors’ Caucus. She is also a member of the Metra commuter rail system board of directors.

Experience

	Village President, Arlington Heights, Illinois (1993-Present)
	Metra Board of Directors (Current)
	Village Trustee, Arlington Heights, Illinois  (1991-1993)
	Commissioner, Arlington Heights Park District  (1979 - 1991)
	Educator
	Chair, O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission  (1997-Present)
	Vice President, Illinois Municipal League  (Current)   Legislative Committee Public Safety Committee
	U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Committee (Current)   Advisory Board Member Arts and Humanities Committee National Task Force on Public Education National Forum/White House Conference on Drug Control

	Member, Executive Board, Northwest Municipal Conference (Current)   Legislative Co-Chair Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee Transportation Committee Workforce Development Oversight Chairman
	Metropolitan  Mayors’ Caucus Executive Committee (Current)
	Member, Solid Waste Agency of Cook County

 Honors 

	Selected to represented U.S. mayors in meeting with President George W. Bush
	Business Professional Women "Woman of the Year"
	Outstanding Woman of the Year - Crosswoods Council Girl Scouts

	Outstanding Local Elected Official -- Workforce Development Bd. of Northern Cook County
	Certificate of Appreciation -- U.S. Conference of Mayors
	Community Service Award -- Arlington Heights Hall of Fame
	Meritorious Service Award -- The American Legion
	Distinguished Citizenship Award -- Grand Lodge Order of Elks
	Public Service and 1997 Distinguished Citizen -- Boy Scouts of America
	Meritorious Service Award -- Illinois Girls Coaches Association
	Outstanding Leadership 2000—Sorophismist
	Distinguished Woman of the Year 2000 – Girl Scouts