Get to know the new village president

By Anna Hughes

For the first time in 16 years, there’s a new leader at the helm of Hinsdale.

At just 37 years old, Greg Hart is the youngest president in village history. His millennial mindset provides a fresh perspective to local government, and he’s honored to represent such a dynamic and historic community.

A management consultant with a deep-rooted passion for public service, Hart grew up in Burr Ridge and attended St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School. Much of his childhood was spent in downtown Hinsdale, and returning home to raise a family was always part of his plan.

“It was never a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when’ I was coming back to Hinsdale,” Hart said. “I had known how great of a community it was to grow up in—how it’s a community where neighbors actually care about each other.”

Hart and his wife, Alexandra, are part of the wave of young families relocating from the city, drawn to Hinsdale’s elite schools, beautiful homes, and vibrant downtown scene. This constant influx of new families means that Hinsdale is always changing: Hart said nearly 50% of residents are millennial-aged or younger.

“The demographics of this community are different than what many people think they are,” Hart said. “While everyone’s opinion and perspective matters on what’s best for Hinsdale, I think it’s important to have representation from the young families that are increasingly calling this village home because their needs and uses for the town are different than maybe someone who has been here 50 years.”

Hart’s goal as village president is to build upon Hinsdale’s solid foundation, utilizing the mindset that “even the best can get better,” as he said at his swearing-in ceremony on May 7.

“I’m going to be looking top to bottom and how we can maintain and build upon the beautiful character and history of our town, but make smart investments in the future in the right way that’s consistent with our character,” he said.

Having served on the DuPage County Board from 2017 to 2023, Hart brings hands-on experience when addressing local issues. He’s taking that knowledge and expertise into his term as president, honing in on four key priorities: public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and maintaining Hinsdale’s AAA bond rating.

Hart’s proposed policies are intended to improve the daily lives of Hinsdaleans. Some of his plans include recruiting new businesses to diversify the village tax base, forming a public safety and transportation commission with citizen involvement, and starting the process of burying above-ground power lines.

“For every new initiative that I’m rolling out, I will laser focus on its fiscal aspect,” Hart said. “I want to… do everything with the lens [of] guarding citizens’ tax dollars.”

In addition to his own initiatives, Hart is a firm believer that the best ideas come from the bottom up. Because of that, he promises to be accessible to the community, and he appreciates any suggestions, questions, or concerns.

“I think the best thing for a public servant to do is to put him or herself out there and be able to take feedback and hear people’s ideas,” Hart said. “The Village of Hinsdale has my commitment that I’m going to do that.”

Greg Hart, Hinsdale Village President

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 “To me, the best public servants are those that are closest to the people, right?
And so I’m in a unique position because of my age, to hear what’s on the minds of the majority of Hinsdaleans.”
– Village President Greg Hart