[1] Barrow voted against giving himself and fellow councillors a salary increase of 54 per cent in 1998, stating that it was "not sending a very good message" to municipal staff and the public.
[9] During the 2003 municipal election, Barrow ran on a platform of alleviating traffic congestion in the area and starting a road safety-watch program.
[1] In late 2017, he declined an offer from the provincial government to host a cannabis retail location in Richmond Hill, a decision that received unanimous support from the city council.
Although he intended to resume his duties as mayor by the fall that year,[16] he ultimately resigned from the position in September 2021,[17][18] and was succeeded by David West after a by-election.
[23][24] In September 2022, a week before his death, the Richmond Hill council dedicated the Dave Barrow Square, located east of the city's Central Library, in his honour.