New party, candidate slate running for Barrington Hills board

Saying they're troubled by the recent actions of their village government, four Barrington Hills residents announced their candidacy Thursday for village board seats in next year's municipal election.

Running under the banner of the newly formed Common Sense Party, the slate includes current Trustee Beth Mallen, lawyer Stephen D'Amore, financier Skip Gianopulos and former Barrington Unit District 220 school board member Dede Wamberg.

Party members said they formed in May because of concerns over recent initiatives by Village President Robert Abboud, including an exterior lighting ordinance being considered by the village board. The ordinance, which will be discussed at an Oct. 25 meeting at Countryside School, would limit the amount of exterior lighting available to Barrington Hills residents.

The coalition interviewed more than 40 candidates for the four trustee positions currently held by Walter E. Smithe, Joseph Messer, Steve Knoop and Mallen.

Their platform includes a call to reverse the expansion of local government they say has taken place during Abboud's tenure.

“We want a village board that takes a sensible view to village government," said Dennis Gallitano, Common Sense Party spokesman.

Abboud dismissed the party's claims Thursday.

“I stand on our record," he said. “Barrington Hills is the most unique environment in this country and we have protected that."

Gianopulos pointed to rising tax levies and declining home values as a motivating factor in his candidacy.

“(Barrington Hills residents) are a community of successful people who like to be left alone and don't like the intrusion of someone telling us what to do," Wamberg added.

Members of the slate also took issue with the village's attempt to change commercial horse boarding operations, which they say would allow every property owner to run an unrestricted operation.

The four candidates currently are collecting petition signatures to get on the April 5, 2011 ballot.