Dundee election fixture re-enters fray
Lee Barrett, known around the Fox Valley for throwing his hat into a number of political races, is planning another candidacy.
On Monday, he announced his run for Kane County’s newly redrawn 21st District, which includes parts of West Dundee, East Dundee and Carpentersville. Because of redistricting, every Kane County Board seat is up for re-election in 2012. There are 26 seats now, but that will shrink to 24 after the election.
Barrett, 73, says he is running because the board needs someone who isn’t afraid to cut spending. If elected, government reduction will be his top priority.
“We need to look at some of the administrative costs — those have gotten out of hand,” he said, adding that he proposes a 15- to 20-percent pay cut for top county officials and would use some of those savings to hire other workers and establish a contingency fund.
Barrett, of Dundee Township, has been a fixture on the local political landscape. Over the last 20 years, he has run for the school board, the township assessor’s office, the township supervisor’s office and the Kane County Board. The engineer was successful only in the latter race and represented District 21 from 1998 until 2006. That year, Barrett decided against seeking a third board term in 2006 and instead ran for state senate. The state board of elections eventually removed him from the ballot in that race, saying a third of his signatures on his petitions were invalid. He lost his bid for the same county board seat in 2010.
Today, the Republican is a member of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission and the county’s board of review.
Tim Haley, the incumbent in District 21, said he’s undecided at the moment, but leaning toward running for another term in office. He added that Barrett’s announcement did not surprise him.
“In the past he has served the district well,” Haley said. “I wish him luck.”
Barrett is expected to make a public announcement Sunday during the Kane County and Campton Township Republican barbecue.
Ÿ Staff writer James Fuller contributed to this report.