Lake Barrington keeps its village president

Kevin Richardson has won four more years as Lake Barrington village president.

With all seven precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed Richardson collected 642 votes to hold off a challenge by Trustee Jean Vonder Haar, with 546 votes.

The former allies were political foes this spring. Vonder Haar, 68, supported Richardson in his first run for village president four years ago. Since then, she said Richardson politicized the office and wasted money hiring needless lobbyists and consultants.

Richardson, 52, is an attorney who has worked as a corporate lobbyist and now runs a management and public relations consulting firm.

He touted achievements in keeping the affluent village a place for "gracious countryside living." He said he increased fund balances while maintaining services, and helped attract development to provide a diverse tax base.

Vonder Haar has now lost her seat on the village board, where she's served for the past 12 years.