A day after all three trustee candidates he supported won in Tuesday’s village board election, Barrington Hills Village President Martin McLaughlin said Wednesday he does not expect all of the issues that have divided the community the last two years to be resolved at the drop of a hat.
On Tuesday, Barrington Hills voters elected the slate of Brian Cecola, Bryan Croll and Michelle Maison to fill three trustee seats on the village board. A competing slate of McLaughlin critics — incumbents Karen Selman and Patti Meroni and challenger Mary Naumann — were defeated.
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Michael Harrington time to take a seat and zip it. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
The Village of Barrington Hills
Golly…….Mike ‘you-all’ have two more years to mess up the village. And say good bye to Fritz for us too. We will surely miss the boy!
“Harrington said he hopes the new trustees stick to their pledge to represent all of Barrington Hills.”
Unlike you, Mr. Harrington, I’m confident the new trustees WILL represent the interests of ALL residents, not just the special interest group you’ve represented.
The voters have spoken loud and clear, Mr. Peepers. Let’s review, shall we? Oh and Fritz, you may want to listen up too. SOS, Save Five Acres, etc, is the same old tired routine in a different package. It’s a joke, because the only threat to our 5 acre/open space is Anderson II. Looks like the village turned out in records numbers to tell you how we want this village managed. President McLaughlin has done a yeoman’s job putting up with the disrespect, lies, slander, manipulation, obstruction, political maneuvering and just plain ignorance from the VBOT and ZBA. The voters are telling you we don’t like the way you operate. Just like they told Abboud two years ago, yet, for the last two years you acted as if the voters didn’t matter to you. How you liking us now Mike? Fritz? Any bad language, non bill payment, threatening Marty, Colleen or anyone else that we voted in will most certainly not be tolerated. I hope that is clear. We will be watching.
After analyzing the numbers, I draw 3 conclusions from VBH election results :
First, this is the final daggar into the divide and conquer style of politics introduced in 2005 by Abboud et. al. of pitting “equestrian residents” against “non-equestrian residents” for the sole purpose of providing a chance to otherwise non-electable candidates;
Second, this is a clear vote of confidence by the voting public that they approve of the leadership style of Pres. McLaughlin and want him to continue with his platform and vision for VBH government;
Three, this is a rejection of the role of the VBH Riding Club which in 2005 moved from a private club imbedded into the social fabric of VBH to a political organization with a radical agenda designed to serve its equestrian special interest even at the expense of the rest of the community;
I was not surprised by the Croll, Maison and Cecola victory, I expected it, given too many self-inflicted wounds by SOS candidates and lengthy record of poor public service by VBOT Meroni and Selman. In the end, not even the tried and proven underhanded tactics of Abboud, Knoop, Rosene and Lundmark could save this sinking vessel.
What was surprising in this off-year election where no national candidate or village president candidate was on the ballot, VBH voter turnout was much greater than in 2011. This election was all about VBH government and to the credit of the VBH voter we turned out in big numbers to voice our opinion.
The other number which stands out if memory serves me well, the margin of victory by Colleen Konicek-Hannigan (who received the most votes in 2011) was @94 votes which was the same margin of victory by Cecola who received the least votes of the 3 victorious OBH candidates. Croll who received the most votes had a margin of victory in excess of 150 votes with Maison right there as well.
This number demonstrates that in 2015 even more VBH residents are rejecting the style of politics and means of governance introduced to VBH in 2005. It will be interesting to see where these numbers are when Harrington and Gohl are up for relection in 2017.
Right now, I do not like their chances.
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Correction to my prior comment, I meant the 2013 election in comparison with the 2015 election.
Credit certainly is deserved by McLaughlin for paving the way, but Croll, Maison and Cecola did a phenomenal job in their campaign in the face of lies and accusations thrown at them from the SOS campaign and the Riding Club. They DESERVED to win the election without a doubt, and we’re grateful for their sacrifice for the residents of Barrington Hills.