Who will be next Des Plaines mayor?

With Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan considering a run for state representative, the mayoral race could be wide open in April 2013.

Moylan says he would serve out his mayoral term if elected to the House seat, but likely would not run for re-election as mayor and try to juggle both jobs.

“I wouldn’t step down,” Moylan said. “This town has term limits so you have to look to the future. I love being mayor. I haven’t made the decision to run (for state representative) yet. I’m exploring the options.”

Republican state Rep. Sid Mathias briefly tried to keep his job as mayor of Buffalo Grove when first elected to the 51st House District in 1998. However, Mathias eventually stepped down after losing the village board’s support.

With Moylan potentially out of the picture in 2013, interest in the Des Plaines mayoral runoff could swell as it did in April 2009 when there was no incumbent due to Mayor Tony Arredia being ousted by voter-imposed term limits.

Fourteen people took out nominating petitions, though ultimately only four filed for the 2009 mayoral race. Moylan, then Ward 2 alderman, beat Mark Thompson, Mike Lake and Dick Sayad, who was elected Ward 4 alderman last April.

Sayad, whose last term as Ward 4 alderman ended in 2007 after eight years because of term limits, said Wednesday he’s not sure if he would run for mayor again.

“Right now, I’m the alderman of the 4th Ward and I’m in here for four years and that’s what I’m concentrating on,” he said.

Sayad said he’s not sure he would even want the job, given the amount of time and money he spent in 2009.

“Everybody wants to be mayor, but to devote the time and effort to do that ... it’s not an easy task,” Sayad said. “You have eight wards to go out and talk to people. You need an army of people to help you. You need a lot of money. You need a lot of support.”

Sayad said he would support Moylan’s bid for state representative.

“I think he’s done a really good job as our mayor,” he said. “I think he will be an excellent candidate.”

The newly drawn 55th House district will include a larger portion of the city of Des Plaines than the current 65th district.

Moylan said after the successful opening of the new Rivers Casino in town that added more than 1,000 jobs, he could now do more for the city as state representative.

“We need additional funds coming from the state to help alleviate our flooding problems, and for job creation,” Moylan said. “It’s important for the future of the city of Des Plaines.”