Jesse Gutierrez: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Board District 6

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County Board District 6

Party: Democrat

City: West Chicago

Age: 56

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

After the 2024 election, I knew I had to do more than trying to get the facts out on social media. So I started to get more involved, particularly by joining the Winfield Township Democratic Organization. Former County Board member Sheila Rutledge suggested I apply for her open seat, and the rest is history. Housing is my #1 issue if elected to the Board, but I also plan to advocate for other issues once elected.

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 former engineer, I am uniquely qualified to serve on the Board. I have spent the last 20 years having to analyze problems, come up with outside the box solutions, justify expenditures, and following up to make sure repairs or modifications I make to equipment are performing as expected. This is a trait I can apply to any committee I serve on as part of the Board

What initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

I would focus on growing revenue without increasing the burden on existing taxpayers. That means encouraging responsible economic development and housing that expands our tax base, while aggressively pursuing state and federal grants. On the spending side, we need to regularly review the budget, eliminate unnecessary spending, and make sure existing programs are delivering results. Fiscal responsibility means making the best use of the money taxpayers already provide before asking them for more.

Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?

One service that is lacking is reliable transportation for residents who do not have access to a car. Too many people can find an affordable place to live but still struggle to get to work, medical appointments or other essential services. I would support expanding practical transportation options that better connect residents with their work place and existing public transit. Rather than creating an expensive new county program, I would look for partnerships with municipalities, Pace, employers and other agencies, while pursuing available state and federal transportation funding.

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 should be a natural requirement of serving on the County Board. Our primary responsibility is to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly and provide effective county services, and neither should be a partisan issue. From attending numerous Board and committee meetings, I have seen members generally work together respectfully despite political differences. I would continue that approach by listening to good ideas regardless of which side of the aisle they come from, focusing on results, and remembering that we are there to serve DuPage County residents, not political parties.

What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?

First off, the recent County Board MEMBERS' raise was a foregone conclusion because not voting for the raise would have meant 12 board members' pay would not have been equal to the other six. I believe County Board compensation should reflect the responsibilities of the position, but any increase should be reasonable, transparent and supported by objective criteria. I would not support large raises simply because comparable elected officials make more. If we are asking taxpayers to be fiscally responsible, we should hold ourselves to the same standard. Any future changes in compensation should be based on clearly documented responsibilities and workload, discussed openly, and justified to the taxpayers who are paying the bill.

What is the most important issue facing the county in your district and how should it be addressed?

Housing affordability is one of the most important issues facing District 6. Home prices, property taxes and rents have all increased, making it harder for young families to buy their first home, seniors looking to downsize, and being able to work AND live in DuPage. The county cannot solve this problem alone, but it can be part of the solution. I would support responsible housing development, work with municipalities to reduce unnecessary barriers to new housing, and better connect housing with transportation and employment opportunities. We need to grow our housing supply and tax base while making sure DuPage remains a place where working families can afford to live.