For Barnaby Dinges, running for mayor of Evanston is the “culmination” of his life experience.
As one of four candidates vying to replace Lorraine Morton as mayor of Evanston, Dinges, Medill ’86, said he hopes his campaign makes use of his background in business and public relations.
“I’m a businessman,” he said. “I come into this campaign with ideas to make Evanston grow so that businesses grow, jobs are created, people are wealthier and the city gets more tax revenue without raising taxes.”
Dinges’ company, The Dinges Gang, is a communications consulting group that specializes in issue advocacy, grassroots organizing and strategic planning. Previously, Dinges oversaw communications for Illinois State Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch. He also held the position of managing director and officer at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations firm.
His work experience has taught him how to identify and solve city issues, Dinges said.
“I’m a very energetic guy who likes to wake up every morning and get something done,” he said. “I am going to create a platform around issues that are important and apply pressure when necessary.”
To solve the city’s current budget crunch, Dinges said he would focus on building up the local economy.
“I see ways to market and create business,” he said. “We’re going to make Evanston a better town for everyone.”
Besides economic growth, one of the most important issues for Dinges is building a stronger relationship with Northwestern.
“I have spoken with university officials, and the conversations have been extremely positive,” he said. “I’d like to have a summit on collaboration.”
The candidate has tried to attract NU students to his campaign through his Facebook page, which a student volunteer started for him. So far, he has 223 Facebook friends.
Emily Garrett, a SESP sophomore, started working for Dinges shortly after she finished volunteering for Barack Obama’s campaign. After researching all of the candidates online, she signed up to volunteer and has been canvassing around the city.
“He has a lot of good ideas,” she said. “He wants to work hard to improve the relationship between Evanston and NU, and he wants to improve it without demanding an enormous check.”
As the April 7 election day draws nearer, Dinges sees the four-way race continuing to narrow. Though he expressed respect for all of his fellow candidates, his main opponent now, he says, is Morton-endorsed Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th).
Prior to his professional career, Dinges attended Wesleyan University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in American politics and literature in 1981. Five years later, he earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism.
In his free time, Dinges likes to relax at home with his wife, Victoria, and Hayden, his 16-year-old son from a previous marriage.
“He has to be the most committed and dedicated father I know,” Victoria Dinges said. “He’s a really focused person, so when he puts his mind on something, he always follows through.”
His other son, 18-year-old Cooper, registered for the Marine Corps last year, something that motivated Dinges to finally seek public office.
“When you have an 18-year-old son who decides to make that type of commitment, it’s very inspirational,” he said. “If I had any doubt – which I didn’t – it helped me get over the hump.”
If he wins, Dinges said he wants to get as much accomplished during his term as possible.
“I’m not in this to be mayor for 20 years, but I want to see how much I can get done in four,” he said. “My son will be getting out of the Marines, I get done with my work here, maybe then we’ll go take a vacation together.”
