Sidor to run for Arlington Hts. board

Mike Sidor is making another run for the Arlington Heights Village Board on a platform of listening and helping village residents.

“As I have gone door to door with my petitions I've been listening to residents and asking them their concerns,” said Sidor, who owns a company that provides translation services for companies and governments. “I will listen to the residents, study the issues, and based on my education and experience hopefully come up with a reasonable and prudent decision on the issue”

Sidor is making his second run for a village board seat. He came in fifth in the 2009 election, and later asked Mayor Arlene Mulder to appoint him to the board when former trustee Helen Jensen retired. Mulder selected Carol Blackwood instead.

Despite the 2009 loss, Sidor said he's had an active role helping residents on several village issues, including a proposed zoning change permitting a funeral home at Memory Gardens cemetery; the village's refuse contract; and curb cuts allowing people using wheelchairs to maneuver on sidewalks and across streets.

Sidor said he worked with Memory Gardens neighbors opposed to the funeral home proposal. Strong protests from neighbors led the village board to reject the proposed zoning change.

He said he hopes to see Arlington Heights become a leader on environmental issues, but also realizes the economy has handed trustees more pressing issues now.

Sidor and his wife, Dr. Faan Yeen Sidor, have a son, Garrett, who is a graduate of the University of Illinois and a psychiatric technician at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, and a daughter, Monica, a senior at Kalamazoo College.

He joins a village board field that includes Blackwood, along with incumbent trustees John Scaletta and Thomas Hayes. Longtime Trustee Tom Stengren is not seeking re-election.

Petitions to get on the April 5 ballot must be filed Dec. 13 through 20.