Endorsements for DuPage County Board primary races

A dozen DuPage County Board seats — two in each of the six voting districts — will be up for election in November.

But first, Democratic voters in DuPage must pick their nominees for six of those seats during the March 17 primary. There’s also one contested primary race for a county board seat on the Republican side.

Here are our choices for those contests.

District 1

The only Republican primary race for a county board seat is in District 1, where Eric Poplonski of Bloomingdale and Onkar Singh Sangha of Elmhurst are squaring off to decide who will challenge a Democratic incumbent in November.

Poplonski is an excellent candidate for the GOP. He says the county must manage its finances responsibly while focusing on public safety and pro-economic development policies. Poplonski is endorsed.

Democrats Nicholas Panicola Jr., a Bensenville village trustee, Melissa Villanueva, a member of the Elmhurst economic development commission, and Maria Sinkule, a College of DuPage trustee, are vying for their party’s nomination for a 2-year term in District 1.

All three are strong candidates. They each speak about wanting to help constituents, especially when it comes to the issue of affordability. But as a small-business owner who understands the importance of economic development, Villanueva would bring a unique perspective to the county board. Villanueva is endorsed.

District 2

There are two primary races to select the Democratic nominees for a pair of seats representing District 2.

Christopher Espinoza and Guido Nardini are running to become their party’s nominee for a 4-year seat on the board.

Espinoza is a school board member in Downers Grove High School District 99. Nardini is a restaurateur who serves as an alderman on the Elmhurst City Council.

Both candidates cite affordability as a top issue and say the county needs more affordable housing. However, Nardini’s business knowledge and experience in municipal government would help him as a county board member. Nardini is endorsed.

Mahnoor Ahmad, a public health director from Oakbrook Terrace, and Mary Rada Walters, an attorney from Lombard, are seeking the Democratic nomination for a 2-year seat in District 2.

Ahmad and Walters each speak about how DuPage should encourage the construction of affordable housing by taking steps such as offering incentives to developers.

However, Walters has some interesting views about other issues, including public transit. She also says she would use her skills as an attorney to listen and find common ground with others. That impressed us. Walters is endorsed.

District 4

Syed Hussain and Paula McGowen are seeking to become the Democratic nominee for a 4-year seat representing District 4.

Hussain is a consultant from Wheaton. McGowen is a Glen Ellyn resident who currently serves as a Milton Township trustee and a member of the regional board of school trustees.

While Hussain has a positive platform and some interesting ideas, McGowen has long been an observer of DuPage County government. That knowledge, along with her experience as a township trustee, gives her an advantage. McGowen is endorsed.

District 5

In District 5, two-term Democratic incumbent Sadia Covert is seeking reelection. But she’s facing stiff competition in the primary from Ian Holzhauer, a Naperville city councilman, and Marylee Leu, an Aurora resident who serves on the regional board of school trustees.

Holzhauer is a formidable candidate who won reelection to the city council last April. He says he wants to become a county board member to expand mental health reforms in policing, address housing insecurity, and pursue sustainable growth at the county level.

But Covert’s more than seven years on the county board cannot be ignored. She has a firm grasp of the challenges the county is facing and wants to continue working on several issues, including food insecurity, mental health and accessible housing. Covert is endorsed.

District 6

In District 6, West Chicago Democrat Melissa Martinez, who was appointed in August to fill a vacancy on the county board, and Lauren “Laurie” Nowak, a former county board member, are running to become their party’s nominee for a 2-year seat.

Democratic voters can’t go wrong picking either candidate. They are both smart and bring unique perspectives to the board.

Nowak says she wants to pursue a variety of issues, including government ethics, transparency, public transportation and housing affordability. She also has specific ideas to address those issues. Nowak is endorsed.