Matthew Hickey: 2025 candidate for Libertyville village president

Bio

Office Sought: Libertyville village president

City: Libertyville

Age: 54

Occupation: Self-employed

Previous offices held: Libertyville Village Trustee (2021-25)

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 love Libertyville. It’s a special place, and I want to make sure it stays that way — not just for today, but for the future. I’m running for mayor because Libertyville can achieve more with open, responsible leadership that listens, puts residents first, and works collaboratively to make smart investments that strengthen our community and local economy.

As Libertyville shifts from a period of development to redevelopment, we need leadership who knows how to reinvest in infrastructure and spaces while keeping our small-town character strong. My experience in strategic planning, responsible budgeting, and community-focused investment ensures that thoughtful growth and fiscal responsibility shape our next chapter.

What drives me most is ensuring residents have a real voice in Libertyville’s future. With a Master’s in Urban Planning and a 23-year career in community development finance, I know how to balance growth, preserve Libertyville’s charm, and ensure tax dollars are spent wisely.

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

The biggest challenge Libertyville faces is balancing growth and redevelopment while protecting our community character, quality of life, and the feeling of being a village of neighbors.

Unplanned, piecemeal overdevelopment threatens what makes Libertyville special. We need engaged, transparent leadership, responsible financial decisions, and development that serves the community — not just developers.

As Libertyville evolves, we must ensure housing, infrastructure, parks, and public spaces meet the needs of longtime residents while welcoming new families. That takes leaders who think long-term, invest wisely, and put residents first.

We must also support local businesses — our economic backbone. Village hall should be a partner, not a hurdle, streamlining processes, fostering innovation, and offering incentives to strengthen our downtown and commercial districts.

By creating a business-friendly environment, we’ll ensure Libertyville remains a place where entrepreneurs succeed and our economy grows.

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?

Libertyville maintains a strong financial position, reflected in its Aa1 bond rating — a result of long-term fiscal management spanning multiple boards and administrations since 2010.

Top priorities include stormwater investments; water, sewer, and lead service replacements; and a new police department building. Each project is funded through dedicated fees and taxes, ensuring the village continues delivering high-quality services.

Because of the village’s strong financial position, I oppose Mayor Johnson’s push for a 1% grocery sales tax — it burdens seniors, families, and our local grocers. With cash reserves exceeding the village’s rainy-day fund policy requirements — this tax is unnecessary.

Residents deserve a tax cut.

While Libertyville is financially stable, we can’t be complacent. As chair of the village finance committee, we must focus on economic growth, better procurement, and operational efficiencies to improve services without raising costs.

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?

The $30M police station is Libertyville’s most significant project, and how we approach it says everything about leadership. We must get this right — not just to meet modern policing needs but to ensure transparent, responsible spending.

That’s why I led efforts to improve Libertyville’s project management — revising our purchasing policy, hiring a professional owner’s rep, and issuing a competitive RFQ for top architectural expertise. Competitive bidding protects taxpayer dollars and ensures the village gets the best value.

This became even more critical after Mayor Johnson hired an architecture firm for a facility assessment without Board consultation. Instead of working with trustees, she chose her preferred firm before discussions took place. Projects of this size require collaboration and an open process — not unilateral decisions.

The project is funded by a ½% local sales tax, approved in 2022, specifically for facility improvements — keeping the burden off property taxpayers.

We must prioritize carefully. Projects without dedicated funding or clear benefits must be reevaluated. Libertyville works best when we govern together — making smart, responsible decisions for the future.

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

My leadership style is collaborative, transparent, and solutions-driven. I believe in listening first, making data-driven decisions, and ensuring residents, businesses, and village staff have a seat at the table.

I’ve spent my career bringing people together to find smart, sustainable solutions that balance financial responsibility with long-term vision. Whether it’s urban planning, community development, or commercial lending, I know the best outcomes happen when leaders work with the community — not behind closed doors.

As mayor, I will ensure village hall is open and accessible — streaming meetings, improving communication, and making financial data easy to understand. I will work with trustees and staff to develop forward-thinking, fiscally responsible policies that put residents first.

By leading with openness, accountability, and collaboration, we can make smarter investments, and better decisions, and keep Libertyville strong for generations to come.

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

A strong community needs fresh ideas and engaged residents. I believe Libertyville’s leadership must adapt and reorient how we govern to better meet the future. That’s why I will work with my fellow trustees to create two new board committees: Economic & Workforce Vibrancy and Communications & Community Engagement.

These committees will focus on supporting local businesses, growing our economy, and improving how we engage with residents. They will also help recruit new voices to serve on boards and commissions — ensuring that Libertyville’s leadership reflects the full community.

To achieve more, we need to bring longtime and newer residents together, ensuring all perspectives are heard. When all of Libertyville has a voice, we get stronger ideas, better agreement, and outcomes that work for everyone.