Endorsements: Allen, Barry for Warrenville council
Ward 3
Two first-time candidates, Scott Allen and Kathryn Davolos, bring a host of knowledge and a ton of enthusiasm to the race for a seat in Warrenville City Council’s Ward 3. Either of them could be an excellent council member. Allen is a retired Marine lieutenant colonel; Davalos is retired from a career of scientific research and technical writing. She also brings an array of civic and political experience, having worked on committees and campaigns in Wheaton Warrenville District 200, plus she served on a citizens committee that helped choose a director for the Warrenville Park District, Allen, a six-year resident (which in Warrenville makes him a newcomer), has extensive experience through his military career in dealing with budgets and contracts. He casts a wary, but not cynical, eye toward the new tax increment financing district the city is planning downtown, its third and one that encompasses the Third Ward. That’s smart, because there are significant differences between the new TIF district and the first one, the one for Warrenville’s wildly successful Cantera area. The city, he says, “is too small to make a big mistake.” This polite challenging of something that’s a big deal and Allen’s unique background are the reasons he gets our endorsement by the narrowest of margins.
Ward 4
Ward 4 Incumbent Clare Barry is a 34-year resident with a strong background of leadership roles in local government, community and church groups. She also brings business experience, having owned a business with her late husband. She also played a role in securing landscaping, sound barriers and other amenities from the state during the widening of Butterfield Road. She is challenged by Thomas Linford, a retired operations manager, decorated Vietnam veteran and cancer survivor. We salute his courage and interest in serving the city. His campaign centers on finances and his opposition to “continuous tax increases” passed by the council. True, the city passed a series of utility and gas taxes more than a year ago, but it was only after a series of public meetings and resident input on the need to provide such basics as road and other infrastructure maintenance. Warrenville operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, and its finances are the envy of many municipalities. Barry is endorsed. A third candidate, Thomas Sherlock, did not participate in the Daily Herald endorsement process.