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Interim District 220 Board member focuses on Barrington teachers contract
Cara Richardson was recently named interim member of the Barrington 220 Board of Education. She replaces Nick Sauer (left), who was elected to the Lake County Board. | Photos courtesy District 220
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Updated: January 16, 2013 8:30AM
LAKE BARRINGTON — Selected out of a group of more than 20 Barrington area residents, Cara Richardson was recently appointed to the Barrington 220 Board of Education.
The Lake Barrington resident, who had already served on the Board from 2006 to 2011, was picked to fill out the term of Nick Sauer, who left for a position on the Lake County Board.
She will serve as an interim Board member until the election on April 9, when four seats will be up for grabs.
Richardson is not running for the elected term, however. District 220 residents will choose between Penny Kazmier, Wendy Farley, Sandra Ficke-Bradford, Sophia Chen-deVries, Christopher Geier and Jerry Keaton.
Richardson serves as vice president of sourcing and services for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an insurance brokerage firm with nearly 400 locations worldwide.
Q: How long have you lived in Lake Barrington?
A: It will be 11 years in February.
Q: Why did you pick the Barrington area?
A: I was an executive transfer. When I got here, I didn’t realize how far Lake Barrington was from Chicago, but I quickly grew to like the area.
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from the Boston area.”
Q: Tell us about yourself?
A: I went to Duke University. I have four children and they all went to Barrington schools. My husband is a trustee of the Village of Lake Barrington.
Q: What about Lake Barrington makes you proud?
A: I like the rural feel of Lake Barrington. It has a lot of wide open spaces.
Q: What is your favorite community event?
A: In Lake Barrington, we do a Barn Stomp every year. It’s a community event every fall with hayrides and bands.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant or entertainment venue in town?
A: I like Pl8 and Francesca’s.
Q: If you were mayor for the day, what would you do?
A: It’s a very rural, small town community. I don’t think there’s anything I would do differently.
Q: What has changed in Lake Barrington since you moved here?
A: I would say there has been some development, particularly in the Pepper Road area, which has become a small industrial area. It’s been a good thing because it has brought jobs and revenue to the area.
Q: What inspired you to seek the interim position?
A: I think this board needs to reach an agreement with the teachers. Because of my previous experience with the board, I believe I can be of service to the community. I am very committed to education in the community.
Q: What are your goals?
A: During this five-and-a-half-month time, we need to reach an agreement with the teachers union and we need to balance the budget.
Q: What is your proudest moment or greatest achievement?
A: In my first term of service, I championed the building of the Early Learning Center. I think that is a community achievement because it gives all our children an opportunity for learning.
Q: What are you reading?
A: I just started a book I got for Christmas called “The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: My favorite movie of all time is The Shawshank Redemption.
Q: What’s on your iPod?
A: I always work out to The String Cheese Incident, so I probably listen to them more than anything.
Q: What’s your favorite vacation destination?
A: We keep a place in Maine, so my favorite vacation destination is in Maine.
Q: Are you a summer or winter person?
A: I am a summer person.
Q: What is your favorite Chicago sports team?
A: Probably the Bears.
