Len Austin has spent the past eight years doing something for which he never planned.
A controversial situation during the 2015 Village President election in Clarendon Hills prompted Austin to put his name on the ballot as a write-in candidate. While winning in that manner isn’t typical, Austin not only was victorious, he accumulated nearly two-thirds of the votes cast.
Austin, along with likely at least most who voted for him, didn’t like what played out during a campaign that had Village Board members Ed Reid and Eric Stach squaring off.
Reid decided to remove himself from the ballot after members of a political watchdog group claimed he should not be allowed to run because he was late in paying water bills to the village, something they said violated the Illinois Municipal Code. Reid said at the time that he didn’t believe he ultimately would have been forced to withdraw, but decided he wanted no part of an election in which “those type of politics” were involved.
“Ed was the most qualified candidate and what he faced was a local, single-issue, activist group that apparently attracted other out of town activists that had no idea that they were attacking the quality of a dedicated volunteer like Ed,” Austin said. “This created a wave of dedicated and motivated residents to ensure Clarendon Hills would progress in good hands.
“We organized and got the word out by going door-to-door, weekend after weekend, until we were all satisfied that virtually anyone voting knew the real story.”
Austin said he didn’t think about seeking a second four-year term until the Clarendon Hills Community Caucus started forming in 2018 for the 2019 election. A few factors led to Austin deciding to run again in 2019.
“Beyond the quality of trustees that I served with was the quality of motivated village employees that answered our request for a new train station,” he said. “During our first term, village staff pursued funding through national, state, and local sources that would eventually lead to the plans for a full Downtown Revitalization Plan.
“We now see the results of these plans and the efforts of our staff, board members, and residents that were involved in helping with funding sources and serving on our Downtown Design Review Commission. Ultimately, I sought reelection to see these plans through to completion.”
Austin said he couldn’t say if serving as Village President went as he expected. “It’s hard to say what to anticipate, as each issue that we face can be supported by a few to a multitude of residents, but can also be opposed by many,” he said. “The job of trustees and the Village President is to look at the issue as a village-wide issue and vote accordingly.
“I have had the privilege of serving with extremely smart and solid trustees that understand their responsibilities, keep their composure under fire and vote with full comprehension of the issue and its impact on the village as a whole.”
Austin said his first term was more goal setting and lots of learning. His second term was seeing plans through to completion. He said he is most proud of village staff and board members with whom he served. And he has greatly enjoyed being involved in guiding the village.
“Giving back to the town or any charitable organization that has given you and your family so much is a duty, and an honor,” he said.
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With additional time on his hands after leaving office, Austin said he and his wife, Suzanne, president of the Clarendon Hills Park Board, both will remain active in the community for years to come.
“Suzanne and I will be empty nesters this fall, so we plan on seeing our children grow in their careers and education,” he said. “We plan to spend more time helping our families, concentrating on our physical fitness and continue our growth in faith at Notre Dame (Parish in Clarendon Hills).”
Village Manager Kevin Barr worked closely with Austin during his tenure as Village President and said Clarendon Hills’ is in a better place because of his service.
“President Austin has been great to work with these last eight years,” Barr said. “He has always been attentive and always had the general best interests of the community in mind. “Because of President Austin’s approach, and that of the Village Board as a whole, we were able to be more effective working in a team environment.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.