Andrew Honig: 2024 candidate for DuPage County Board District 2

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: DuPage County Board District 2

City: Lombard

Age: 26

Occupation: Accountant

Previous offices held: Lombard Village Trustee (2019-present)

Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I am running to continue to help people within my community. I want to contribute to finding ways to help deliver new and existing mental health services to residents of DuPage County.

DuPage County is a leader in this country, and I want to be a part of keeping DuPage on everyone's radar and being an effective transparent leader for people here in District 2.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

I am running for the open seat being vacated by Liz Chaplin, who is running for the DuPage County Recorder of Deeds office.

I want to bring my accounting background to the finance committee. I have a master's degree from NIU in accountancy and that has served well on the Lombard Village Board.

As finance chair for the Village of Lombard, I contributed to balancing Lombard’s $50-plus million budget for the last 5 years. I work well with people and that's how I have always been.

No matter the background or differing opinions, I always leave that at the door and do the work for the people I represent. I want to bring a youthful voice to the board as well and if elected, I will be the youngest board member currently serving.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

I will approach this by stating that the county board has a balanced budget. I believe the current county board has worked well with bipartisan support, to ensure that tax dollars are well spent while tending to the needs of their strategic long-term plan. Like any government, I think the biggest threat is inflation.

Hiring well-qualified people and contractors remains a good return on investment for taxpayer dollars. The DuPage County Board has done extraordinary work tackling any issue that comes up and addressing it head on. I am a firm believer in making sure people don't spend money they don't have and living within your means.

Just like the DuPage County Board, being attentive to what is needed over what is wanted is also a crucial distinction factor at play.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Bipartisanship is the path to effective government at every level. DuPage County residents want a county board that functions, not one that is gridlocked. I have worked across the aisle for many years on my village board to achieve the policy goals that benefit all residents.

We have balanced our budget year after year since I have been on the village board and as finance chair. County board members are partisan elected positions, but at the same time, we all serve the people, and we must put our differences aside and work with one another.

I believe Deb Conroy has done a wonderful job at running the meetings and being the leader of the county board. Overall, the county board Democrats and Republicans, have worked well together over the last 2 years.

Earlier this year, some suggested that the 1996 state law that established a separate forest preserve board in DuPage County should be undone and that the forest preserve should be returned to the control of the county board. Do you support that idea? Why or why not?

I do not believe it would be in the county best interest to bring the preserve back to the county. We should be looking at the reason that the forest preserve was established as its own governing entity separate from the county.

If the DuPage County Board is pro economic development and the forest preserves objective is to be pro-open space preservation, it is a balance of the separation of both governments. They both have clear cut visions that seem to be quite effective when managed by their own objectives.

The forest preserve has made amazing progress when it comes to their management of new projects that promote solar energy, wildlife preservation, and sustainability.

What are your thoughts about the condition of the county fairgrounds in Wheaton? Should the county play a greater role in improving and maintaining the structures on the property?

I have been an elected village trustee in Lombard since 2019 and this has never come up as an issue in our community. Since walking doors this election, talking with other local leads, this does not seem like a top priority in District 2. If there is more of a need based off what we are hearing from the community, that will be the time to address it in the future.

What are your thoughts about the consolidation? Should the county play a greater role in streamlining and consolidating local government? Why or why not?

I think the county should be looking for collaboration before consolidation. We should be working with other local government units to strengthen any overlapping services and to ensure there is no waste for redundant efforts.

I believe the county should always be monitoring for ways to find efficiency, but I believe there are separate government bodies for a reason. Other local government bodies should be assessing their own goals and their strategic priorities because having the county consolidate governments might not be effective.

What role should the county play in combating the opioid crisis?

I believe awareness is the biggest key in this issue. The sheriff's office has been very proactive in this matter, and their officers all carry Narcan with them. Drug remediation courtrooms in DuPage County are an asset to fight this crisis as well.

I support all these things. Last year the county board unanimously voted the CRC building on the county fairgrounds. I support this building, and it will be a huge asset to the county in fighting the opioid crisis.

There will be doctors, therapists and groups that will operate to help struggling children, adults and individuals that are in crisis. I praise the current county board for their actions to get mental health services to the most vulnerable.

What role should the county play in increasing affordable housing in the region?

I believe we need to invest in more affordable housing here in DuPage County. We have made great strides, and I was happy to be a part of approving affordable housing here in Lombard for seniors. As it becomes increasingly hard to buy a home, it is crucial that the county board pursues affordable housing where it is needed most in the county and where it would make the most impact.