Daniel Arevalo (Mayor of Belvidere, Illinois, candidate 2025)
From Ballotpedia
 |
Local ballot measures • School boards • All local elections by county • How to run for office |
 |
Daniel Arevalo (Republican Party) ran for election to the Mayor of Belvidere in Illinois. He was on the ballot in the Republican primary on February 25, 2025.[source]
Arevalo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Daniel Arevalo provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on January 27, 2025:
- Birth date: February 5, 1989
- Birth place: Peoria, Illinois
- High school: Belvidere High School
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Catholic
- Profession: Construction
- Prior offices held:
- Alderman (2014-2020)
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Together, Stronger, Better
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
General election for Mayor of Belvidere
Frederic C. Brereton, John Albertini, and Clinton Morris ran in the general election for Mayor of Belvidere on April 1, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Frederic C. Brereton (R) | ||
| John Albertini (Independent) | ||
| Clinton Morris (Independent) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Mayor of Belvidere
Daniel Arevalo and Frederic C. Brereton ran in the Republican primary for Mayor of Belvidere on February 25, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Daniel Arevalo | |
| Frederic C. Brereton | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Arevalo in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Daniel Arevalo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arevalo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Born and raised in the great state of Illinois, I am 36 years old, and my core values are rooted in my parents. My father has always been a farmer and continues to work tirelessly to this day. His unwavering dedication laid the foundation for my work ethic, instilling in me the values I hold dear. My mother, on the other hand, nurtured a deep love within me—a love that has guided my efforts to serve and uplift others in every way I can.
Over the past 10 years, I've gained valuable experience through various organizations, governance roles, and ongoing education. I’ve attended seminars and pursued continuous learning to enhance my understanding to become an effective leader.
This journey has allowed me to build incredible connections and friendships, all of which have prepared me for the road ahead as I campaign for the mayoral race on February 25th of 2025."- My vision for a more business-friendly environment was well received during conversations with several business owners in Belvidere. I envision strengthening the city’s relationship with business owners as a key step toward fostering growth. We must explore ways to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to invest and expand by simplifying processes and reevaluating outdated ordinances. Additionally, ensuring a level playing field for all businesses is essential—avoiding favoritism and promoting fair opportunities for everyone.
- Taxes: I understand the frustration with rising taxes. My goal is to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and transparently. I support controlling spending, prioritizing essential services, and exploring ways to attract business investments to broaden the tax base rather than overburden residents. While raising taxes is not ideal, it is sometimes necessary to ensure vital services are maintained.
- City Appearance: Belvidere deserves to shine as a community we can all be proud of. Improving the city's appearance is a priority, which includes addressing neglected properties and focusing on beautification efforts. Applying for State and Federal grants is essential to fund these improvements. Taking out loans for the city is a possibility, but only as a last resort, as the long-term cost of interest can strain the budget.
I am deeply passionate about public policies that uplift our community and support small businesses. A strong, vibrant community starts with creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive.
I also believe small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. By advocating for policies that reduce barriers, provide resources, and encourage entrepreneurship, we can create an environment where small businesses can grow and succeed. When our businesses flourish, so does our community. It’s about building a better future together, one step at a time.
I also believe small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. By advocating for policies that reduce barriers, provide resources, and encourage entrepreneurship, we can create an environment where small businesses can grow and succeed. When our businesses flourish, so does our community. It’s about building a better future together, one step at a time.
I look up to my parents for their strong work ethic and caring love, which have shaped my values. I also follow in my brother's footsteps by serving my country in a different way, as he served in the military.
I would recommend the movie Lincoln. It highlights the importance of perseverance, unity, and the courage to make tough decisions for the greater good. These are values I hold dear and strive to embody in my approach to leadership. The film emphasizes collaboration and the power of working together, which is what I hope to see in our city—residents and citizens coming together to build a stronger, more connected community.
An elected official must embody the characteristics of a compassionate leader who truly listens to the needs of the community and acts with empathy and understanding. Compassion ensures that decisions are made with the well-being of all residents in mind, fostering trust and connection.
Equally important is the ability to acknowledge and rectify mistakes. No one is perfect, and leadership is about learning and growing. An effective official takes responsibility for their actions, listens to feedback, and works tirelessly to correct missteps while staying focused on the greater good. These principles build a foundation of integrity, accountability, and service.
Equally important is the ability to acknowledge and rectify mistakes. No one is perfect, and leadership is about learning and growing. An effective official takes responsibility for their actions, listens to feedback, and works tirelessly to correct missteps while staying focused on the greater good. These principles build a foundation of integrity, accountability, and service.
The core responsibilities of someone elected to this office are ensuring that the community remains the top priority, addressing its needs and concerns with dedication and transparency. This means actively working to improve the quality of life for all residents while finding ways to unburden citizens, whether through efficient use of taxpayer dollars, reducing unnecessary regulations, or providing access to essential services.
Equally important is fostering economic growth by supporting small businesses, attracting new investments, and creating opportunities for job creation. A thriving economy not only strengthens the community but also lightens the load on residents by broadening the tax base. It’s about building a future where everyone can prosper.
Equally important is fostering economic growth by supporting small businesses, attracting new investments, and creating opportunities for job creation. A thriving economy not only strengthens the community but also lightens the load on residents by broadening the tax base. It’s about building a future where everyone can prosper.
I remember the tragic event of 9/11 as the first historical event in my lifetime. I was 12 years old at the time and recall feeling sad and not fully aware of what was happening in the moment.
A mayor is a leader in their city, which means finding opportunities to discuss and have conversations with the public and business owners, engaging with the youth, and fostering future leaders to ensure the community thrives.
The mayor's top priority in office should be to serve as a unifying leader and advocate for the community by fostering collaboration between the city council, residents, and local businesses. The mayor should focus on setting a clear vision for the city's growth, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and maintaining accountability while promoting open communication and engagement with the public. Building trust, addressing community concerns, and fostering partnerships to enhance the city's quality of life should remain at the forefront.
The mayor should have a cordial relationship with the city council, fostering collaboration and mutual respect while ensuring that council members are also active and engaged in the community. This partnership is essential for addressing community needs and achieving shared goals effectively.
What I love most about Belvidere is the small-town feel it offers, along with how courteous people are and their genuine willingness to help a neighbor.
I perceive my city's greatest challenges over the next decade to include not adopting changes quickly enough, as surrounding areas have been doing, investing in infrastructure to attract more businesses, and consulting with groups to stay informed about trends that support growth.
The ideal relationship between the city and the state government involves working alongside Senators from both parties, ensuring that collaboration is key to addressing community needs and fostering growth.The ideal relationship between the city and the state government should be one of collaboration, mutual respect, and open communication. The state government should provide support and resources to help the city achieve its goals, while the city should work to align its initiatives with state policies and priorities. This partnership should focus on addressing shared challenges, fostering economic development, and ensuring that the city’s unique needs and opportunities are understood and prioritized at the state level.
The city’s relationship with the federal government should involve active communication with its congressional representative and collaboration to address community needs. The city should advocate for federal resources and support, ensuring access to grants, infrastructure funding, and programs that benefit local residents.
Relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement should be based on mutual respect, trust, and open communication. The mayor should support law enforcement in maintaining public safety while ensuring accountability and transparency. This partnership should focus on fostering community trust, addressing public concerns, and promoting policies that encourage equitable and effective policing. By working together, the mayor and law enforcement can create a safer, more inclusive environment for all residents.
The government should always be fiscally responsible and held accountable to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively and efficiently while maintaining public trust.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
