Daniel Zierk: 2025 candidate for South Barrington village board

Bio

Office sought: South Barrington village board (Vote for 3)

City: South Barrington

Age: 42

Occupation: No answer given

Previous offices held: Village of South Barrington Clerk (current)

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

Community Safety and Well-Being: Ensuring resident safety is crucial. I propose boosting our neighborhood watch programs and investing in modern technology to improve emergency response times and streamlined communication with local schools.

Sustainable Growth and Development: As South Barrington continues to grow, we must balance development with preservation. I advocate for smart growth strategies that protect our green spaces while promoting responsible development.

Enhancing Community Engagement: A thriving community is an engaged community. I am committed to finding ways to improve the connection between village officials and residents. By focusing on better communication and collaboration between the village board and residents, we can more effectively address concerns and ideas.

This will help ensure a shared understanding of the best path for our village, making sure that everyone’s voice is heard and that we move forward together in a way that reflects the community’s needs and values.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

It is essential to manage our village’s finances with integrity and transparency. I strongly believe that both current and past village leaders have done an excellent job in this regard. In the years ahead, a key focus will be on further modernizing our technology infrastructure, with an emphasis on enhancing community safety and improving communication with residents.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

An essential infrastructure project we must focus on is enhancing our back-up water contingency plan. Ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply, especially during emergencies, is crucial. We need to prioritize long-term strategies such as infrastructure assessments, investments in water storage, and partnerships with regional utilities to safeguard this vital resource.

I also see an opportunity to collaborate with the South Barrington Park District to improve and beautify our parks. While the park district operates independently, a joint effort can help achieve shared goals, enhance green spaces, and add recreational amenities. These improvements would also increase the appeal of South Barrington for families and businesses, funded through park district resources, fundraising, and private contributions.

Lastly, pedestrian safety is a key priority. With no sidewalks in South Barrington, we need to develop a plan to improve connectivity and safety, particularly in higher-traffic areas. Sidewalks will promote healthier lifestyles and alternative transportation to schools and parks. We can seek state and federal funding to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

I bring over 20 years of experience in the private business sector, where I led and collaborated across various divisions. This experience has equipped me with the skills to work with diverse stakeholders, develop strategies, and manage projects — skills directly applicable to local government.

Additionally, my time as village clerk has provided me with hands-on experience in municipal operations, policy implementation, and communication between residents and officials. This has given me a deep understanding of how local government works and the importance of transparency in decision-making.

As a father of three, I’ve honed my negotiation and problem-solving skills, learning the value of patience, understanding, and compromise — qualities that are essential in local governance.

I prioritize collaboration, open communication, and active listening when cultivating an opinion. My approach is data-driven, balancing long-term goals with short-term practicality. I am committed to making thoughtful decisions for the benefit of our community, leveraging both my business experience and my role as village clerk to help guide South Barrington toward sustainable growth.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Disillusioned with how government was not prioritizing residents and taxpayers, we decided to move our family of five from Chicago to South Barrington.

Upon meeting local village officials, it was clear that their dedication to maintaining and enhancing South Barrington’s reputation as a premier place to live was strong. I expressed my interest in getting involved and was appointed as village clerk, which provided me invaluable experience in understanding the inner workings of local government.

With over 20 years of management experience in the private sector, I quickly recognized that my skillset is well-suited to a formal role in village government, particularly in decision-making, policy development, fostering communication, and improving community engagement.

As a father of three young children (twins age 4 and a 6-year-old), each enrolled in the local school system, my family is deeply invested in South Barrington.

Through relationships with newer families in the community, I’ve gained a strong understanding of how to bridge the needs of younger families with those of long-established residents — an issue that will continue to grow in importance in the coming years.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A South Barrington Youth Government program would offer a unique opportunity for young residents to engage with local government, learn about the government process, and develop leadership skills which will also be vital for professional and personal development.

By involving youth in village decision-making, this program could help cultivate a new generation of responsible, informed citizens who are invested in the future of their community.

Through a Youth Government initiative, students could have the chance to work alongside village officials, participate in mock meetings, assist with community projects, and contribute ideas on issues affecting their peers. This would not only empower young people to become more civically engaged, but it would also provide fresh perspectives on community matters and encourage collaboration between generations.

Ultimately, a South Barrington Youth Government would foster a stronger sense of community, teach valuable skills, and ensure that the voices of the next generation are heard in shaping the future of the village.