Jennifer Wondrasek: 2025 candidate for Barrington village board

Bio

Office Sought: Barrington village board (Vote for 3)

City: Barrington

Age: 56

Occupation: Engineering delivery lead

Previous offices held: Barrington Village Trustee since 2017

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

Barrington’s most serious issue is the need for continued economic growth and infrastructure improvements. We need to encourage new businesses and restaurants in the downtown to maintain a strong village. We can do this by finishing our strategic plan of infrastructure improvements that ensure connectivity to the downtown while maintaining our heritage.

The village board needs to respond to the need for economic growth by continuing to improve the connectivity and the overall downtown Barrington experience while keeping our small-town heritage.

We need to see the strategic plan through and finish the projects started that the community requested. We’ve completed the Hart Road renovation, the Metra lot light at Route 14, and the Route 14 underpass is funded and underway.

We will need to continue the revitalization with the addition of bike paths and sidewalks to make our community more connected, especially around schools and downtown.

The new downtown park that is set to open this summer will bring more events and a place for the community to gather. Our village and community needs proven leadership who can complete these projects while being fiscally responsible.

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?

The village board has a long-standing commitment to fiscal responsibility and continues to be fiscally conservative. We have consistently maintained a balanced budget and high bond rating.

Our top spending priorities need to be:

1.) Infrastructure improvements

We need to complete the Route 14 underpass and continue to update our roads. We have currently secured more than $100 million grants for these projects, saving our residents from this burden.

2.) Economic development

We need to continue investing in out downtown to make it attractive for restaurants and businesses to want to move in.

3.) Wastewater treatment facility update.

The current wastewater treatment facility is 100 years old with an overhaul done 50 years ago. The facility needs to be updated to meet the residents’ water needs and new mandates for clean water. The village is working to secure grants to fund this project.

Throughout the year, the village reassess its budget and makes accommodations to ensure that the budget is balanced while ensuring the needs of its residents are met.

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?

The most important and the biggest project that the village needs to complete is the Route 14 underpass. This underpass will ensure that our residents will have unimpeded access to hospitals, schools, and our downtown. Our board has secured nearly 100% of the cost of the project in state and federal funding for this project of great regional and local importance.

Much of the village’s infrastructure costs are paid by leveraging state and local grants. We have secured more than $100 million in grants for projects we’ve completed or are completing.

Barrington continues to be fiscally responsible with its yearly balanced budget. Throughout the year, the village reassess its budget and makes accommodations to ensure that the budget remains balanced while ensuring the needs of its residents are met.

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.

What I have learned in my experience of being on boards and setting policy, is that you have to come to the table well-informed and ready to listen. Determining policy needs to be based on candid and respectful dialogues that include listening and contributing. Only then can a consensus be made between board members and with the residents.

Communication and open dialogues with residents are the keys to having policy that works for the residents. Surveys, community meetings, and around-town conversations with residents help ensure that the policy of the village reflects the priorities and needs of the residents.

This open communication and collaborative approach fosters balanced solutions and policy that works with and for the residents of Barrington.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have lived in and, most importantly, been involved in the Barrington community for over 20 years. I graduated from Barrington High School as well as both of my now college-aged children. Like so many in Barrington, when it was time to raise my children I was drawn back to Barrington for its rich heritage and strong community ties.

In addition to eight years as a village trustee, I have served on both board and volunteer positions for Barrington Youth and Family Services, District 220 PTO council, Wellness Place cancer support center, and St. Anne’s parish.

Immersing myself in the Barrington community allows me to listen and collaborate with a large group of residents to ensure that I do what is best for Barrington. In these years of volunteering as trustee, I have collaborated with both staff and the board to ensure that we prioritize improving our aging infrastructure and town center while being fiscally responsible by leveraging grants.

Most importantly, I have learned how to listen and communicate with residents to ensure that all voices are heard and respected. Only then, am I able to make policy decisions that are best for the residents of Barrington.

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

Barrington needs to continue to improve its connectivity to the downtown area through additional bike and pedestrian pathways. Pathways added to connect the Roslyn school area and the Dundee Road areas have improved safety and are well used. Adding additional pathways around schools, the local park district, and even connecting to neighboring towns will ensure a safe path to keeping our downtown vibrant.