Barrington Hills mayor announces run for state Senate

Barrington Hills Village President Martin McLaughlin is running for the 26th District Illinois Senate seat that will be vacant following state Sen. Dan Duffy's decision not to seek re-election in 2016.

McLaughlin, the owner and manager of a registered investment advisory firm, characterizes himself as an independent Republican.

"I don't see the state's problems as being Republican problems or Democrat problems, it's a business problem of not paying our bills," McLaughlin said. "People like me who are outside of the system need to be involved to get reform passed."

McLaughlin was elected Barrington Hills village president in 2013, and intends to remain in office while seeking the Senate seat. He said he wouldn't have considered running for Duffy's seat if he didn't think the village was on the right track.

"We have done a lot in a short period time," McLaughlin said. "I think the village will be on a sound financial course."

McLaughlin has earned both supporters and detractors during his tenure in Barrington Hills.

Village Trustee Mike Harrington, who generally has been at odds with the village president since they were elected in 2013, said he thinks McLaughlin's limited public leadership experience will hurt his chances in the Senate race.

"I've found it difficult to build a trusting relationship with him," Harrington added. "For a man who ran on promise of uniting Barrington Hills, I haven't seen evidence of that and haven't seen any evidence of him trying."

But Trustee Michelle Nagy Maison, who was elected earlier this year, said McLaughlin is a natural leader with unlimited energy and passion for learning as much as possible.

"If President McLaughlin can accomplish in the Senate what he has been able to accomplish in Barrington Hills it would be a huge win for all of us," Maison said.

The 26th District includes a large portion of central and southwest Lake County, as well as parts of northwestern Cook County, northeastern Kane County, and southeastern McHenry County. In addition to the Barrington area, the district includes parts of Libertyville, Lake Zurich, Cary and Algonquin.

McLaughlin said his candidacy has been well-received by the leaders from across the district he has reached out to.

"I am ready to go to Springfield and fight the entrenched powers on behalf of my neighbors in the 26th District," McLaughlin said.

Dan McConchie, a Republican from Hawthorn Woods, also has announced he is running for the seat.

The Republican primary will take place March 15, 2016, in advance of the general election in November 2016.