Joe Soto: 2024 candidate for DuPage County Board District 6

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: DuPage County Board 6

City: Winfield

Age: 35

Occupation: Realtor

Previous offices held: Milton Township Trustee

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 because I am passionate about continuing to serve the community I’ve been a part of my entire life.

Growing up, living, working and raising my family in DuPage County has given me a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of our residents. I want to ensure that our county remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

A key issue that motivates me is maintaining a balanced budget while ensuring that our essential services, such as senior programming, public safety, and community health, are well-funded and effective.

I believe in transparent governance that works directly with residents to solve problems and improve the quality of life for everyone.

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?

As a current board member for Milton Township, I have made several key contributions that have directly benefited our community.

I've played an active role in maintaining a balanced budget, ensuring that our township operates efficiently while still providing essential services to our residents. I have helped expand and grow our food pantry to better support those in need, particularly during challenging times.

I have also been instrumental in staffing and funding our community health board, which provides vital resources and programs to support the well-being of our residents. Additionally, I have focused on assisting our senior population by enhancing senior programming and services, promoting public safety initiatives, and educating constituents about how the township can serve them effectively.

If elected to the DuPage County Board, I would bring this same dedication and hands-on experience

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.

Maintaining a balanced approach between county spending and revenues is crucial to ensuring fiscal stability while providing essential services to our residents. Our county has made strides in keeping expenditures in check, but we must continue to be vigilant and proactive in managing our finances to avoid future shortfalls.

It’s about finding the right balance — allocating resources efficiently and investing in critical areas such as public safety, infrastructure, and community health, while avoiding unnecessary expenditures.

Looking ahead, there are several threats that could impact this balance. Rising costs for essential services, like public safety and health care, pose significant challenges, particularly in a time of economic uncertainty that we are currently living.

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

Yes — I would be open to discussing concerns, thoughts, wants and needs from both sides. Most importantly I will do what is right for our community members.

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 am not in support of this. They should be separate as they are now. The county board has enough to focus on and to take care of for its constituents

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 a deep personal connection to the DuPage County Fairgrounds, having grown up right across the street and visited there for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it's the nostalgia, but I feel that the fairgrounds are just fine and functional as they are. They serve their purpose well, providing a great space for community events, gatherings, election activities, overflow parking and the annual fair.

As our population grows, we can certainly consider making adjustments to accommodate new needs, but for now, if the buildings are safe and sound structurally and the flow of events is smooth and safe, regular maintenance should be sufficient.

I believe the fairgrounds continue to play an essential role in our community, and any improvements should be thoughtful and driven by actual needs rather than just change for the sake of change.

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

As a Milton Township trustee, I do not believe there should be a consolidation of local government.

Our township serves our constituents in an efficient and effective manner, often eliminating overlapping services by working hand in hand with other governmental entities through intergovernmental agreements.

Local governments like ours are uniquely positioned to focus directly on the specific needs of our communities without becoming too broad or disconnected.

By maintaining this localized structure, we can provide tailored services that larger, consolidated entities might not be able to offer.

Streamlining government is important, but we should be cautious about consolidating to the point where we lose the responsiveness and direct connection that local government provides to its residents.

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

The county should take an active role in combating the opioid crisis through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement. We need to focus on educating our youth about the dangers of opioid use and providing resources for prevention and recovery. At the same time, we must be firm in penalizing those who are trafficking and distributing these dangerous drugs in our communities.

The main cause of the opioid crisis stems from federal issues, such as drugs pouring across our borders unchecked, we can't ignore the local impact.

I have personally lost friends to opioid addiction, and I also believe that prescription drugs are being overprescribed and are too easily obtained.

As a county board member, I am committed to doing everything in my power to address this crisis. We must turn off/slow the main faucet in order to slow the flow downstream.

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

As a Realtor, I have seen firsthand the impact that rising home prices and higher interest rates have had on affordability. Many families are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing that fits within their budgets.

The county should play a proactive role in increasing affordable housing by working with local municipalities, developers, and community organizations to create more opportunities for affordable housing development.

This could include incentivizing developers to build affordable units, utilizing available land for housing projects, and ensuring zoning laws are supportive of diverse housing options. The process must be streamlined with less red tape and transaction fees.