As many readers know, Skip was elected to fill a two-year term as Village Trustee in April 2011. His term will end in 2013. Unfortunately, Skip has decided not to seek re-election. This is disappointing to many, but understandable given his professional, civic, charitable and other commitments. These are all qualities that made him an outstanding Trustee and a proper recipient of our Shining Star Award.
For his activities as a Trustee, Skip’s legacy and perhaps greatest achievement will be his ongoing fight and successes in bringing greater transparency to Village governance. A visible reminder of his efforts in this area is the installation of improved web-based audio recordings of Village Board meetings, making it practicable and feasible for residents literally to “stay tuned” to what is happening at Village Hall. While he did not act alone, Trustee Gianopulos was a primary supporter of this improved audio access. Unfortunately for Village residents, Skip’s efforts to install live web-based video streaming of Village Board meetings were rebuffed by other board members, purportedly on phony cost grounds. Perhaps that will come in the future.
Also unrivaled are Trustee Gianopulos’s efforts to bring diversity of views and opinions to Village Board discussions, and to expose the influence of special interests in Village Board decision making. For this, we commend Skip’s courage and determination.
Beyond his Village Hall duties, Skip has given back to the community in many ways. He has been involved with the Barrington Area Community Foundation, Barrington Area Development Council, among other civic and charitable pursuits. Skip can be especially proud (and we commend him) for his central involvement in Gigi’s Playhouse, an organization of Down syndrome awareness centers.
Our congratulations and thanks go out to Trustee Skip Gianopulos—a brave advocate for much needed transparency and diversity in Barrington Hills village government.
– The Observer