Mulder doubles up on challenger in Arlington Heights

Arlene Mulder cruised to victory and her fifth term as Arlington Heights village president on Tuesday.

With 83 of 83 precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed Mulder had 6,773 votes, or 66 percent of the total votes cast, while her challenger Phillip Walter had 3,486 votes, or 33 percent of the total votes.

"I thought it might have been a little closer," said Mulder from her election party at the Wellington Restaurant in Arlington Heights. "But I've always been told to trust the Arlington Heights voters, so I did."

Walter did not return phone calls on Tuesday night.

Mulder, 64, was first elected to the Arlington Heights park board in 1981 and served 10 years. She then served as 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. Mulder has been an Arlington Heights resident for 38 years. She and her husband Albert have three married children and five grandchildren.

Walter has lived in Arlington Heights for 39 years. He and his wife, Dawn, have four children. Dawn Walter lost her own bid to get a two-year seat on the Arlington Heights Memorial Library board on Tuesday.

Since 2000, Walter has run twice for trustee and lost. For the past few years, he has been a regular at village board meetings criticizing spending and how open the board is for regular citizens.

Mulder said her first goal for her fifth term is to watch village spending and to attract new businesses to Arlington Heights.

"On Monday, we approved a budget that was 7.2 percent less than last year," she said. "And we may have to look a further reductions down the road. It's all based on the economy. Even in this economic climate, we need to attract new industries."

Throughout the campaign, Walter said Mulder and her village board were closed off to Arlington Heights residents and didn't listen to their concerns.

Mulder said Tuesday's election results told a different story.

"We're here in good times and bad times," Mulder said. "It's tough economic times now, and we are listening."

Walter and Mulder also clashed on the future of the Arlington Market development and village spending.

For example, Walter criticized the village spending $30,000 over budget for Toyota Prius hybrid cars and for budgeting $100,000 for interns and summer help. Walter said he would cut those two items before laying off village employees.

Mulder accused Walter of not being realistic.

"The most difficult thing to avoid is personnel," said Mulder at a debate. "When 80 percent of your budget is personnel, it's impossible to avoid."

When it came to Arlington Market, where construction of residential units has been delayed, Walter said the village should clean up the site at the northwest corner of Dryden Place and Kensington Road and bill the developer for the cost.

Mulder, on the other hand, said village officials can't simply barge onto private property. The village has already fined the developer, but can't force the company to build on the site, she said.

Walter said if Arlington Heights officials truly want a transparent government, they'd post all village bills and contracts on the village's Web site.

It's a move that Mulder said may be too expensive.

After her win, Mulder wouldn't say if she'd be interested in running for a sixth term.

"You know, I'm just excited about four more years," she said.

"In three years, I'll make that decision."