Supporters praise Darch at final Barrington board meeting before election
Nine Barrington-area residents came forward Monday night to express their support and admiration for Village President Karen Darch at the final board meeting before the April 4 election.
Among the group of well-wishers was Dave Nelson, former Barrington village president and current Cuba Township supervisor, who said he hopes voters don't take for granted how well Barrington is doing under Darch's leadership.
"You've done a lot for our community, but there is still some work to be done," Nelson said.
Mike Kozel, Darch's opponent in the upcoming race, did not attend the board meeting because of a work matter but watched video of the comments Monday night. Kozel said he wasn't surprised that Darch brought her political friends out to give her support.
"When you are the incumbent, you can use board meetings to advance your agenda," Kozel said.
Darch said after the meeting that she had nothing to do with the people attending the meeting. She said that they came and spoke may have been a reaction to a prior meeting that she described as a pile-on against her.
During public comment at the Feb. 27 board meeting, a few people spoke against Darch, including Kozel and Todd Rhodes, the owner of downtown Barrington businesses Grassroots and Alley 59. Rhodes announced during that public comment that Grassroots was not going to renew its lease, and he criticized Darch for hardly ever coming into his store.
In contrast, on Monday night, John Brown, the owner of the Ace Hardware at 906 S. Northwest Hwy., thanked Darch for her pro-business attitude and vision, which he said was part of the reason he decided to open up shop.
Kozel said he wasn't surprised that Brown supported Darch because Brown in 2012 was the recipient of as an economic incentive agreement, which not every business owner gets.
Bob Lee, a longtime volunteer, local philanthropist and Barrington resident, spoke not only in support of Darch's leadership but also of people who turn out to vote.
Lee said he heard this weekend that more people filled out a March Madness bracket than voted in the 2016 presidential election.
"So what I'm challenging everyone in this community that filled out a basketball bracket, or didn't, to go to the polls on April 4th and vote," Lee said. Then a man in the audience called out that he'd filled out two March Madness brackets.
"You get two votes," Lee joked.
To view a video of the board meeting, visit barrington-il.gov.