New Village Manager Was Eyeing Hinsdale Job 'For Awhile'

Kathleen Gargano was officially hired as Hinsdale's new village manager Tuesday night during a Hinsdale Board of Trustees meeting at Memorial Hall.

Gargano, a native and resident of the western suburbs, has worked for the last 16 years at the Village of Wilmette, where she most recently served as assistant village manager.

Working in a north shore suburb, Gargano said Hinsdale was on her radar for some time. 

"I have been watching Hinsdale for a while," she said. "If was going to leap to another community, I wanted one with similar issues to Wilmette, and those are quality-of-life issues."    

Gargano said she's moving "from one wonderful community to another," and that while the two towns have socioeconomic similarities, "They each have their unique challenges, and I’m looking forward to a different set of challenges."

She said she views the village manager position as one that takes its cues from the town's elected officials. 

"The board sets the policy and I make sure that we get there," she said.

Trustees picked Gargano from a group of 125 applicants and 17 interviewed candidates, Village President Tom Cauley said.

"The board is confident that Kathleen is the right fit for Hinsdale and we look forward to working with her," Cauley said.    

Gargano will be the first woman to serve as Hinsdale's village manager, a fact she said she did not know when she accepted the position and one she addressed simply.

"I think it’s wonderful for women in the profession and I’ll leave it at that," Gargano said. 

Gargano's official start date is Sept. 9.

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