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Barrington Village Board candidates line up for Spring race
Barrington Village President Karen Darch, photographed speaking during the village's Veterans Day observance Nov. 12, delivered her State of the Village address March 18. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 14, 2013 7:06AM
BARRINGTON — The Board of Trustees for the Village of Barrington will be seeing some new faces in 2013.
Trustees with terms ending in May of next year are Village President Karen Darch, Village Clerk Adam Frazier, and trustees Beth Jones-Raseman, Steve Miller and Tim Roberts.
Darch, who is running for re-election, said she believes her experience from the past five years will help her and the village trustees to address Barrington’s ongoing issues.
“I am pleased to be part of what the Village has accomplished,” said Darch, adding that she would like to continue to lead Barrington into 2015, when the village turns 150 years old.
While there are no confirmed candidates running against Darch for the village president’s seat, the filing deadline for municipal positions opens Monday (Dec. 17) and runs through Dec. 26.
Roberts reported that he is running for a third term on the Village Board. Roberts, who has lived in Barrington since 1991, is also president and cofounder of Catalyst Exhibits, Inc.
“I bring a strong business background to the board and want to continue the progress we have made over the last four years,” he said.
Roberts cited village services, fiscal management and business development as some of the areas in which he believes the village has made progress.
One of the largest debates in Barrington currently is the redevelopment of the lot on the corner of Hough and Main streets downtown. Pete Douglas, former board president of the Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services who now lives in Barrington, said he is running for Village Trustee. Douglas said he wants to focus on the “livability” of families in Barrington.
“I feel strongly about Barrington’s future and about my ability to have a positive impact,” said Douglas. “It’s important to me that the Village board takes a deliberate, responsible approach to finances and development.”
Jim Magnanenzi, longtime Barrington resident and businessman, said he is running along with fellow businessman Mike Kozel, also of Barrington. Magnanenzi said he is running in large part because of his strong opposition to the current plans for the redevelopment of Hough and Main streets.
“Going forward, let’s do the right thing and stop giving land away to a north shore developer,” he said, adding that he does not think office space is an appropriate use of the land due to the current office real estate market, which he described as weak.
“We’re losing more taxes from buildings they’ve torn down then revenue from new buildings going up,” he said.
Longtime Barrington resident Sue Padula said she is running for Village Trustee because she has always been fond of Barrington and wants to remain involved.
Padula, who has been involved in a number of community organizations, said she believes she knows the village well.
“I have some insight into what attracts families to live in Barrington,” she said.
Frazier, who was elected Village Clerk in 2009, said he is running for re-election because he cares for Barrington and has enjoyed his years of service.
“I care deeply for this community,” he said. “The state of the Village of Barrington is clearly bright.”
