Editing Chicago Ridge, Illinois (section)

==Government==
Chicago Ridge is in [[Illinois's 3rd congressional district]].

Charles Polchow served as the first president of Chicago Ridge when it organized as a village in 1914. He emigrated to the United States from [[Germany]] in 1897. Charles and his wife, the former Luzina Zippel, arrived March 10, 1897, to Chicago Ridge. Their first home was a farmhouse at 107th near Oak Park Avenue, where their first four children were born. Later the family moved to another farmhouse at 105th and Central, where they had seven children. One of his sons, Herbert Polchow, became village president of Chicago Ridge in 1953. Farming was the Polchow family's first occupation, but in 1919 at 107th and South Ridgeland Avenue the family built Polchow's Grove and [[Tavern]]. Polchow's was one of three taverns, the others being John Henry Meyer's Chicago Ridge Hotel at 103rd and South Ridgeland Avenue and Liberty Hall. Charles Polchow died in 1951 at the age of 78.

Henry Schmalen was Village President from 1921 to 1924.  He moved from Chicago to Chicago Ridge after he retired from the wholesale meat business. His niece was Mary Maker, the first women trustee in Chicago Ridge.

Arthur W Meyer was Village President from 1925 to 1926.  His father was John Henry Meyer who operated the Chicago Ridge Inn and Hotel which included a tavern, next to the railroad tracks at 103rd and Ridgeland Ave.

Peter Ruices was Village President from 1927 to 1934. The Ruices family owned Rucies Tavern and Grove at 106th Street and Ridgeland Avenue which was a popular spot for special events.

Bruno Duckwitz was Village President 1937 to 1942.  He resigned his position to enlist in the armed forces in 1942 and serve active duty during World War II.  After the War, Duckwitz operated a popular Laundromat at 106th and Ridgeland until it was destroyed in a fire.

John Dokner was Village President from 1943 to 1944.  He spent 20 years in public service.  He was on the local school board and a longtime member of the towns board of auditors.  Upons this death in 1968, Worth Township issued Resolution No. 68-I honoring his service.

William Walsh was Village President from 1945 to 1952, president of the board of education, justice of the peace, and Worth Township Democratic Committeeman.

Herbert Pulchow Sr was Village President from 1953 to 1956.  He was one of 11 children to Charles (1st Village President 1914–1920) and Lucina.  He started Village wide trash collection at .25 per can.

Arthur Cooper was Village President from 1957 to 1964.   He was the first Village President born in Chicago Ridge.

Joseph Coglianese was Village President from 1965 to 1974.  The Chicago Ridge library, Public Works and Park District were formed under his administration. Firehouse 2, a Park District Building, a Police Car Garage and Elden D Finley Jr High were built during this time.   His term was cut short by legal proceedings.

In 1975 Eugene "Gene" Siegel was appointed to serve as Part-time Village President and he served as a Part-time Village President until 1993 when he was elected as a Full-time Village President, a position that he held until he retired in 2013 making him the longest serving Village President of Chicago Ridge.  His contributions to Chicago Ridge were numerous. Gene Siegel died in 2017.  The Eugene Siegel Municipal Complex at 104th and Ridgeland and Eugene and Virginia Siegel Memorial Drive on 103rd Street between Ridgeland and Southwest Highway are named after him.

William Paulus was Village President from 1955 to 1956.  Mayor Paulus was married to Marie Paulus, the town's postmaster for 1927 to 1954, and the post office was operated from their home.

The village of Chicago Ridge is governed by a President and Board of Trustees.  The Village President is the chief executive officer, and the board of trustees is the legislative body.  The Village Clerk is the keeper of the records.  The Village President, Board of Trustees and Clerk are all elected to four-year terms. Local elections are held every two years in the spring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagoridge.org/Government/GovernmentOverview.html |title=Government Overview, Chicago Ridge, Illinois (IL) |access-date=February 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217222616/http://www.chicagoridge.org/Government/GovernmentOverview.html |archive-date=February 17, 2008 }}. Accessed February 17, 2008.</ref>

The Chicago Ridge Park District offers a "before/after" school care program.