A lifelong resident of Springfield, Jim Langfelder took office as Mayor in May 2015 and was re-elected in April 2019.
Since becoming Mayor, he achieved extending Springfield’s Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the second time since its creation – a first double extension in the State of Illinois. This extension has allowed continued growth and development in Springfield’s downtown including providing funding for the Realtors’ Bicentennial Plaza, the Kidzeum of Health & Science, the new Downtown-Enos Park YMCA, the Centre @501 which converted an abandoned church into residential and commercial properties, and installation of an underground storm sewer-system on a 2.35 acre site directly across from the Illinois Governor’s Mansion - making it development ready.
Mayor Langfelder’s focus has also been on the Springfield Rail Improvements Project – consolidating all trains from the Third Street to the Tenth Street rail corridor by 2025. The Ash Street underpass opened November 1, 2019 and the Laurel Street underpass is under construction, opening fall of 2020.
Other accomplishments for Mayor Langfelder include the creation of the city’s 2037 Comprehensive Plan, achieving a Class 1 Fire Department rating for the Springfield Fire Department, stabilizing the finances of the city’s own public utility (CWLP), initiated an Integrated Resource Plan for future energy needs, ensuring the addition of a Homeless Outreach Team within the Springfield Police Department, funding for housing for homeless Veterans, the completion of the 11th Street and Stanford Avenue extensions, the installation of the free downtown Wi-Fi, and re-dedication of the 1908 Race Riot markers.
Mayor Langfelder and his wife Billie have been married for 29 years and have 3 children, all who reside in Springfield.