Wauconda attorney announces he'll seek trustee seat in April

Wauconda attorney and community volunteer Tim Howe is throwing his hat into the ring and running for a seat on the village board.

Howe, 54, announced plans to run for a 2-year term this week by launching a campaign page on Facebook.

"This 2-year term is a unique opportunity, and given my vocal opposition to many of this mayor's maneuvers, I felt it was imperative that I stopped talking the talk and started walking the walk," Howe told the Daily Herald on Wednesday.

The mayor in question is Frank Bart, who narrowly won election in 2013 and has been blasted by a vocal segment of the public for personnel and political decisions since taking office.

Howe has been a fixture at village board meetings during the past year and has been one of the mayor's regular critics.

Howe said his experience as a trial lawyer will serve him well if he's elected.

"I have the ability to think on my feet," he said.

Howe is the first candidate to step forward in Wauconda. Four trustee seats will be on the April 2015 ballot.

Those positions now are held by Linda Starkey, Ken Arnswald, Chuck Black and Joseph Coster.

Howe is after the post now held by Coster, who was appointed to the board this month after Teri Burke resigned.

The other seats on the ballot carry traditional 4-year terms.

The filing period begins Dec. 15 and ends Dec. 22.

Howe has never run for public office.

In 2012, he led the committee that campaigned to bring Lake Michigan drinking water to Wauconda and has remained an outspoken proponent of that $50 million project.

Howe also has served as president of a local Lions Club and is a volunteer with Wauconda's license and administration committee.