Stephen V. D'Amore: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Barrington HillsWebsite: http://www.restorecommonsense2011.comOffice sought: Barrington Hills Village boardAge: 42Family: Married, one child.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: B.A., Honors, Summa Cum Laude, Loyola University Chicago (1991); J.D., with Honor, DePaul University College of Law (1994)Civic involvement: Chicago Inn of CourtsGilda's Club ChicagoElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Traffic accident in high school. Never convicted of any crime.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Restoring a common sense approach of limited government, which served the Village well for decades, and halt the recent trend of unnecessary regulation.Key Issue 2 Preservation of the predominantly residential and five-acre character of the Village, through effective strategies and the avoidance of costly and failed disconnection litigation.Key Issue 3 Fiscal discipline, by controlling expenses and increasing cash reserves.Questions Answers Describe your personal position on the outdoor lighting ordinance.The exterior lighting ordinance (ELO), as ultimately approved on January 24, 2011, was at the same time a victory for the voices of so many residents who opposed earlier draconian versions of the ordinance and a defeat for the idea of limited Village government. As approved, the ELO will apply only to new construction and large expansions, meaning that today, it is a law that applies to no one in the Village. To that extent, it was a victory for the voices of so many current residents, including myself, who opposed its passage. Nevertheless, the ELO was a failure for the Village because it marked a departure from the idea of limited government. There was no need for a new lighting ordinance, as an existing Village lighting ordinance addressed exterior lighting issues in a reasonable, sensible way. In addition, by applying only to new construction or expansions, the ELO will create two classes of residents within the Village, with separate and unequal rights within the same Village.Generally speaking, do you see the village of Barrington Hills as the product of strong regulation or as a bastion of individual property rights? Should the practices of the past be changed or maintained?The Village of Barrington Hills has been and should continue to be a bastion of individual property rights. We should continue to preserve residents' right to quiet privacy by preserving predominantly five-acre zoning through effective strategies; promoting the overall residential character of the community by limiting commercial activities; maintaining fiscal discipline; and restoring the philosophy of limited government.Should the village's requirement of minimum 5-acre lot sizes be maintained or should land owners have the right to divide their property as they see fit?The Village should preserve predominantly five-acre lot sizes, and land owners do not and should not have the right to divide their property as they see fit. That part is easy. The challenge is to adopt effective strategies to preserve predominantly five-acre zoning without losing land at the Village borders to costly disconnection litigation. The current approach of #8220;bright line#8221; or #8220;no compromise#8221; zoning has failed, and cost the Village over 600 acres of land at Village borders.Would the village benefit from a modest amount of commercial development? Where, if anywhere, should a commercial area of the village be established?Probably not. Although every situation needs to be judged individually, as a general matter the policy of the Village should be to limit commercial activities to those that comply with the current Home Occupation Ordinance.Should equestrian uses of land within the village be further regulated?No. But the Village should continue to monitor compliance and better enforce existing ordinances, including those that govern and limit large scale commercial horse boarding in residential zoned areas of the Village.