Haig Haleblian Leads Crystal Lake Mayoral Race

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Haig Haleblian is on track to become Crystal Lake's new mayor.

With all precincts reporting, Haleblain, the current acting mayor and former city councilor, has a notable lead over challengers Donald Kountz and Jim Sisto.

According to unofficial vote tallies, Haleblian had 55.2 percent of the vote total compared to Sisto's 28.36 percent. Kountz trailed with 16.44 percent.

Haleblian stepped into the mayoral role last summer after Shepley, who served as Crystal Lake's mayor for 21 years, died in his sleep at the age of 56, city council member Ellen Brady told the Chicago Tribune last spring. He biked 50 miles the day before his death and said he felt a tightness in his chest before he went to sleep.

• Crystal Lake, Cary Voter Guide: 2021 Local Elections

Haleblian said Shepley was "not only a friend but also a hero," and picked great leaders to help run Crystal Lake.

Newcomers Donald Kountz, a retired senior director for Northrop Grumman, and Jim Sisto, a sales manager and business teacher for Columbia College, both believe Crystal Lake needs to focus on being a better partner with other communities in the area.
Kountz says renewed leadership is needed.

"Over the past four years, I have seen many examples in which the Mayor and City Council did not put in their due diligence or ably direct the city staff to work with and communicate with other local governments," he wrote in a recent candidate profile on Patch. "A vote for me is a vote for renewed leadership that looks out for the welfare and pocketbooks of all Crystal Lake residents and taxpayers."

As for priorities if elected, Haleblian, the owner of Exceed Floor and Home for the past 34 years, says moving on past the COVID-19 virus, business retention and staying focused on keeping Crystal Lake's tax rate among the lowest in McHenry County are top on his list.

While serving as acting mayor, he helped bring in a $600,000 state grant for struggling small businesses, cut the cost of liquor license fees and is working on creative initiatives to promote outdoor dining, he said.

"I'm laser focused on securing any and all state and federal monies to help Crystal Lake's small businesses. Small business is the lifeblood of any community. We all need to support them," said Haleblian, who served on the city council for three years before stepping in as acting mayor. Prior to that, he spent 30 years on Crystal Lake boards and commissions.

Kountz supports a local mask mandate. Wearing a mask, he says, is as easy as wearing a seatbelt.

"I would support a rigid mask mandate and would ease restrictions on the operation of non-essential businesses," he said. "For dining, since patrons can not wear masks the only alternative remains social distancing. That is why the quicker everyone in Crystal Lake can get vaccinated, the quicker restrictions can be lifted for these businesses."

Sisto is focused on preventing any tax hikes. He wants to see businesses and schools open as soon as safely possible and everyone in Crystal Lake get a COVID-19 vaccination in the coming weeks.

"I will try and help to make sure everyone in Crystal Lake that wants a vaccine will get one before summer," Sisto said.

Getting those shots into Crystal Lake residents' arms is also a top priority for Haleblian. He's been working with city and county leaders to open a mass vaccination site in Crystal Lake. Currently, the county is eyeing a space at Willow Creek Community Church in Crystal Lake to make that happen.

"As the largest community in McHenry County we deserve a site to administer the COVID vaccine," he said.

Another priority for Sisto is revitalization of the Route 14 corridor that "has been ignored for years." He also wants to see Downtown Crystal Lake survive and thrive.

Meanwhile, Kountz supports job growth and plans to advocate for seniors in town.

"I've been both a member and a leader of teams tasked with solving difficult and complex problems for over three decades. Trained as an electrical engineer, I bring these skills with me. I understand being elected carries with it responsibilities," he said. "That is why I pay attention to the details. I dig to find and anticipate the problems before they happen. I trust but verify to ensure the information is correct and complete so the job is done right."

Here are the profiles submitted to Patch by all mayoral candidates running for the open seat:

• Donald Kountz
• Haig Haleblian
• Jim Sisto

Crystal Lake, Cary Voter Guide: 2021 Local Elections

Other Contested Races

Voters in Crystal Lake and Cary will also be asked to pick their choices for several other contested races, including the Crystal Lake City Council, Cary Village Board, and several local school district, township district, library district and park district boards.

Three incumbents for the Crystal Lake City Council, Mandy Montford, Ian Philpot and Cameron Hubbard, appear poised to return to their seats.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting at 8:20 p.m., Philpot lead with 1,783 votes, 28.33 percent of the vote total; Hubbard had 1,719 votes, or 27.31 percent of the vote total; and Montford had 1,698 votes, or 26.98 percent of the vote total. Newcomer Robert Brechbiel brought in 1,094 votes, or 17.38 percent of the vote total.

Here is a look at the profiles for candidates who submitted answers to Patch:

• Robert Brechbiel
• Mandy Montford
• Ian Philpot

Newcomer Rick Walrath lead the Cary Village Board race with 616 votes, according to unofficial results. Incumbent Jennifer Weinhammer and Duane (Rick) Dudek, a former Cary Village Board trustee, appeared on track to secure the other two open seats.

Incumbent Jeffery Kraus trailed the race with 561 votes.

MORE ON PATCH

Head to Crystal Lake-Cary Patch for more news.

• Crystal Lake, Cary Voter Guide: 2021 Local Elections
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• McHenry Co. Eyes More Mass Vaccination Sites
• Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley Remembered By Local Leaders