Madhusree (Maddy) Ghosh: 2025 candidate for South Barrington village board

Bio

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

City: South Barrington

Age: 41

Occupation: Self-employed

Previous offices held: No public office held prior to this campaign

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

Decreasing funds, along with rising crime and traffic, are some of the biggest challenges South Barrington will face in the coming years. The village board should focus on expanding the tax base and exploring new revenue sources.

As crime rates rise, it’s crucial to reassess and strengthen policies and processes for responding to criminal activity. By doing so, we can better deter crime and reduce incidents like break-ins and car thefts.

Additionally, there is an urgent need to improve traffic control, particularly around the elementary school and key intersections within the village.

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 state of South Barrington’s finances requires careful attention. While we have a solid foundation, it’s clear that we need to prioritize spending to ensure long-term stability and growth.

The next few years should focus on improving infrastructure, such as enhancing roads, sidewalks, and bike paths, which directly impact residents' safety and quality of life. Investments in these areas will make the community safer, more connected, and more attractive to potential residents and businesses. Additionally, some have suggested fencing along the outer boundaries of communities (such as The Glen) to restrict subdivision access from public areas.

Additionally, we should focus on managing costs effectively. While some spending is necessary for maintaining services, there are areas where we can trim back, such as reducing unnecessary legal fees and reevaluating services, events or programs that don’t serve the majority of residents.

By being mindful of where money is spent, we can ensure that essential projects are prioritized, and we are using taxpayer funds responsibly.

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 infrastructure project South Barrington should focus on is improving connectivity and safety, particularly through adding sidewalks and bike paths. Many residents have expressed the need for safer routes to places like Community Park.

Enhancing pedestrian and cyclist access will improve safety and encourage a healthier, more active community. Additionally, addressing traffic flow and signage improvements will help reduce congestion.

To fund this, we can use a combination of strategic planning, TIF funding, and grants, while reallocating funds from less critical areas, like legal fees or underutilized services.

In these uncertain economic times, we should put nonessential projects, like large-scale park upgrades or extravagant beautification efforts, on the back burner.

Our focus should be on projects that directly impact residents’ daily lives and safety. Prioritizing these infrastructure improvements will provide real, lasting benefits to the community.

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.

When working in a group to determine policy, I focus on open communication, collaboration, and respecting different viewpoints. I believe in listening carefully to everyone’s perspective and making sure everyone feels heard, while keeping the overall goals in mind. I think good decisions come from balancing input, facts, and what’s best for the community.

As a member of the village board, I would encourage open discussions where all voices are considered, and I’d work to find common ground to keep things moving forward.

I’m all for reaching a consensus but know that sometimes tough decisions are needed. This approach will help ensure we make decisions that are in the best interest of the community and lead to real, positive outcomes.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring a strong blend of leadership, entrepreneurial experience, and a solid business and marketing background to help South Barrington thrive. With a fresh perspective on issues that may have been previously discussed at the board level, I’ve been actively listening to the residents — those whose voices truly matter — to understand what they want for the community they call home.

I am committed to continuing this dialogue, offering thoughtful suggestions to the board, and finding ways to balance financial priorities with necessary improvements in close collaboration with the village government.

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

An idea to better our community is to create a “South Barrington Sustainability Fund” that focuses on long-term, environmentally-friendly initiatives.

This could include projects like installing solar panels on public buildings, creating more green spaces, or implementing a community-wide composting program. Not only would these initiatives reduce our environmental footprint, but they could also lead to cost savings in the long run through energy efficiency and waste reduction.

This fund could be supported by a combination of grants, public-private partnerships, and contributions from residents who want to invest in a greener future for South Barrington. It’s an idea that aligns with the values of many residents and would help make our community a leader in sustainability while improving the quality of life for everyone.