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Carpentersville trustee stepping down

Carpentersville Trustee Doug Marks, a man known for watching the budget like a hawk and for publicly sparring with officials, has announced his intent to resign from the village board, effective Sept. 30.

Marks is a Libertarian who most recently ran for the state senate in the 33rd District until he was kicked off the ballot over a lack of valid signatures. Two years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Randy Hultgren and then-incumbent Bill Foster.

In a letter sent out Monday to village officials, the one-term trustee cited a need to move to Arizona for better job opportunities.

“After reviewing my prospects here in Illinois, and what I see as the future economics of this state, I have decided to relocate out of state,” Marks wrote. “This is not an easy decision for me but it is, what I think, the best for my family.”

Marks, 52, was laid off from his job as a senior systems analyst and web developer in late-July, but things are already looking up for him, as he has seven job interviews lined up in the Grand Canyon State.

Marks was elected to the Carpentersville village board in spring 2011 and almost immediately started mixing it up with local officials.

Village President Ed Ritter refused to appoint Marks to the commission that’s charged with developing the annual budget, a cornerstone to Marks’ campaign.

In response, Marks, who had not yet been sworn in, fired back at Ritter on his own Facebook page.

Marks also got into heated discussions with Public Works Director Bob Cole and Village Manager J. Mark Rooney over expenses for the new public works building that he said were unnecessary. In that same vein, Marks also opposed water-rate increases, renovations for village hall, a requirement for people to pave over their gravel driveways and building a new fueling station.

Marks, 52, floated laws of his own, included lifting restrictions on the number of dogs allowed in a home and setting expiration dates for future ordinances. Neither one passed. He also had a proposal to see whether there was a way people could legally carry concealed weapons in Carpentersville. That, too, came to nothing.

Marks’ goals were to be frugal and to let people live their lives without government interference.

“I am going to kind of miss having the soapbox to stand on to speak my views,” Marks said, “I never wanted to be controversial on hot-button issues.”

Ritter intends to appoint someone to fill Marks’ seat for the next six months and to let residents decide who will finish his final two years.

While he and Marks often didn’t see eye to eye on issues, Ritter said he appreciates the way Marks handled himself.

“You could always tell where he was coming from,” Ritter said. “Those of us who have served for a long time, sometimes forget, and it’s helpful to have had that new voice to remind us of why we’re there — to serve the residents.”

So much for peace in Carpentersville

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