Kate Duncan: 2023 candidate for Barrington village board

Bio

Town: Barrington

Age on Election Day: 44

Occupation: Attorney

Employer: Quarles & Brady LLP

Previous offices held: village trustee

Q&A

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

A: The most serious issue our community will face in the coming years is continuing to protect, preserve, and enhance our residents quality of life. The village board must stay in tune with the community's needs and ensure our village remains a place that people want to live and to be invested in. When people are invested in their community, the community is stronger and more vibrant.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: The Village Board continues its tradition of fiscal responsibility and continues to be fiscally conservative. It is important to continue this so our community's finances are solid for the next generation.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: 1. The community's infrastructure needs must be satisfied. The Route 14 underpass needs to be completed without being too disruptive, our roads need to be repaired and maintained, and our water and wastewater treatment facility needs to be kept up to date and enhanced where necessary. 2. We need to promote more economic development in the village. We need to continue to encourage new restaurants and businesses to make the downtown district their home so the character of our village remains strong. The village board should also identify public projects that enhance our downtown, to make our downtown a space where neighbors want to gather. 3. The village needs to help the community replace any remaining water service lines to individual properties that are made of lead. The village board worked to obtain a forgivable loan and has offered residents the opportunity to have their service line replaced if needed at no or very low cost to them.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: We have been fiscally responsible in spending on the village board and have demonstrated that by having a balanced budget for years. Spending should always be limited to what is necessary to make the community function at an appropriate level. I always support ways of cutting costs where we can while maintaining our high level of service.

Q: 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?

A: The most important infrastructure project right now is the Route 14 underpass. The freight train traffic in Barrington causes not only horrible traffic congestion but has the potential to result in devastating impacts if anything would happen to a train while it crosses all of the Village's railroad crossings at the same time. The underpass project is being financed with a huge grant that the village received from CMAP, among other funding, and with only a small level of participation from the village. This project is a great example of the village seeking outside funding to pay for infrastructure. Village staff, at the direction of the board, is always seeking grant funding so we can maximize the village's dollars on projects. Projects that can be put on the back burner may include any upgrades needed in the Metra parking lot. Parking in the Metra commuter parking lot remains low since the end of COVID, so any improvements that may be needed in that lot should wait.

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

A: My experience in a group setting to determine policy has been very positive. My style is to be well informed and well prepared by researching and understanding the facts. Once I am, I know that I will be able to make a positive contribution in a group setting by voicing my independent thoughts and ideas. However, I am also a good listener and want to be able to understand the thoughts and ideas of those around me. I like to keep an open mind and make sure that I listen to all perspectives before reaching a conclusion. I firmly believe decisions made as the result of collaboration are the best ones

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I am deeply rooted in Barrington. I have lived here for 18 years, and my husband and I are proud to be raising our two children here. This community has offered opportunities for growth and success that are far beyond what we would have found anywhere else. I am actively involved in our community. I volunteer in my church helping with Sunday School and serve as an Assisting Minister. My kids have both played on more sports teams and participated in more dance recitals than I can count, resulting in a broad and diverse group of people who are residents and who I now call friends. My experiences serving on the Barrington Village Board and volunteering for Barrington's Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission have offered me the chance to know and help more people in this town then I ever thought possible. I love Barrington and I am proud to represent the voices of all my friends and neighbors to make sure Barrington continues to be a town in which people want to live, work, and play.

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

A: We need to make sure there is great bike and pedestrian connection throughout town (and there really is), but it would also be great to connect these pathways into the surrounding communities. We have worked hard to complete bike and pedestrian pathways throughout the village, but the next step would be to work to link these paths to the surrounding communities so there is a connected network of safe passageway for bikes and pedestrians.