Democrat Theresa Barreiro to announce candidacy for circuit clerk

Kane County Board member Theresa Barreiro, D-Aurora, stated in a news release that she will announce her candidacy for Kane County Circuit Clerk after the Kane County Board meeting at 11:30 a.m. July 9, in front of the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva, Building A.

Barreiro would seek her party's nomination to run as a Democrat in the November 2020 general election.

“I have earned the respect of my peers and have been vocal with many issues,” Barreiro stated in the release. “I would like to bring that same intensity to the Office of Circuit Clerk.”

Barreiro stated in the release that she has enjoyed serving the people of Kane County as a board member, but after community leaders asked her to serve in a county-wide office, she decided to run for circuit clerk.

Barreiro stated in the release that her background in local government and her work experience will lead to success with the office of circuit clerk.

Barreiro was first elected to the Kane County Board in 2012 and has an extensive background in local government going back 30 years, the release stated.

She gained experience in the Kane County Clerk’s Office where she served as a state registrar for six years.

In 1990, she was hired by the city of Aurora as a deputy city clerk and was promoted to various positions in community development and building and permits over the following eight years.

Beginning in 2006, Barreiro served six years in the private sector as an executive assistant for a financial adviser.

During her tenure on the Kane County Board, Barreiro served on several committees and has held leadership positions serving as chairwoman of the Development, Foreclosure Task Force and the Community Block Grant Committee.

She also served as co-chair of the Jobs Committee.

As a Kane County Forest Preserve District commissioner, she serves on the Executive Committee and is chairwoman of the Planning and Utilization Committee.

While serving on the Kane County Judicial and Public Safety Committees, Barreiro became concerned about the lax approach to the management of the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Because Kane County residents have expressed concern over property taxes, she has questioned the low collection rate of fees, the release stated.

Barreiro said that the Circuit Clerk’s Office should be doing a better job collecting fees to help reduce reliance on local property taxes.

Barreiro has been reviewing the operations of the Circuit Clerk’s Office and is developing a plan to better serve residents.

Barreiro lives in Aurora with her husband and has three grown children.

More information is available via email at Barreiroforcircuitclerk@gmail.com.

Republican Thomas Hartwell was first elected circuit clerk in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. Hartwell lost a bid for Kane County judge in Nov. 6, 2018 to Democrat Michael Noland.