(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After 26 years as mayor of north suburban Skokie - plus 15 years as a trustee - George Van Dusen is retiring from the village. He served as mayor of the suburb for longer than Richard Daley did in Chicago.
“It's been a very good ride, and I think you simply have to have a sense when is the time to leave,” Van Dusen said.
That time will be after the April 1 election.
Municipal races usually don’t attract a lot of voters - something a Skokie electoral reform group pointed to in its push for changes. The mayor said their turnout is inline with other suburbs and he sees it as a sign residents have been happy with their services.
“We have not really had what you would call great issues,. We don't have scandals. Our public officials are not paid egregious amounts of money.”
Van Dusen points out the village’s property tax rate is the same level it was since 1990 - before he became mayor.
“It was 15.4 million in 1990 and it's 15.4 million today.”
He says he’s also proud of Skokie’s redevelopment of the Old Orchard Mall, the creation of the Illinois Science and Technology Park and the Oakton Station on the Yellow Line.
When he leaves the $35,000 a year job, Van Dusen says he wants to write a mystery book.
“If you know somebody who wants to be an agent for a first-time elderly novelist. Send them my way.”
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