By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - This Hamilton County village's police department, known for running radar on Interstate 75, is also spawning politicians.

The mayoral race is an all-police affair. Two former chiefs face an incumbent who is a former lieutenant. The village's portion of Interstate 75, less than a mile each way, has some notoriety among motorists and has long been included on a speed trap information Web site.

"I don't really know of any other (former) police chiefs that have run for mayor," said Mayor Joseph M. Harper, 49, who retired from the force on partial disability in 1999 after suffering a leg injury.

In addition to Harper, who is finishing his first four-year term in the job, Chuck Huff, 58, and Mark Groteke, 42, are running for mayor. Huff retired as police chief in 2002 after 34 years on the department, the last 17 as chief. Groteke was interim police chief for one year before resigning this summer.

The two challengers say the village needs to improve its commercial tax base. The community is home to 899 people, according to the 2000 census.

"We have some vacant land," Huff said. "We also have several buildings I think could be improved to make (them) more productive. They need to get some more commercial work in there.''

Groteke said more commercial development is needed, and he would use his business experience in running the village.

"The last few years It seems like we've struggled financially," Groteke said. "I want to improve the village's appearance and image. I want to search for business opportunities for the village that will help it financially. One of my goals is to pay the employees competitively for the positions they hold."

The police department, for example, is one of the lowest-paid in the county, he said.

Harper said he spent his first term working to upgrade public safety and other areas.

The village has obtained several grants for such things as streets, infrastructure, police and fire equipment and playgrounds.

"Since I've been mayor for these four years we have (probably) secured over $400,000 in grants," Harper said. "It's not just me. It's the working of the whole administration working together. Everybody's working hard to turn the community around.''

E-mail daveck@fuse.net