Christopher Espinoza: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Board District 2

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: DuPage County Board, District 2 (4-Year Term)

City: Downers Grove

Age: 25

Occupation: Staff assistant for the Illinois Senate President’s Office

Previous offices held: District 99 Board of Education

Q&A

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

I am running for DuPage County Board because I want DuPage County to be a place where everyone has a real chance to thrive. I know what it’s like to face housing insecurity and uncertainty.

I have experienced homelessness, relied on county services, and felt firsthand how challenging it can be when stable, affordable housing is out of reach. That experience drives my commitment to making housing attainable for families, seniors and young people, so no one has to face the struggles I did.

But housing is just the foundation. Access to jobs, transportation, public services and community resources all depend on it. I want to ensure the county invests in programs, policies and funding that help residents stay in the communities they call home and create opportunities to build better lives.

I'm running to provide hope and to be a voice for those who are too often overlooked. I want to be the kind of leader my younger self could look up to, someone who shows that your experiences matter and that government can be a force for comprehensive change.

My goal is to make county government work for everyone and to create the stability and opportunity every resident deserves.

If you are an incumbent, describe a few important initiatives you’ve led. If you’re not an incumbent, describe a few ways you would contribute to the board.

I would bring practical experience, policy knowledge and a perspective grounded in real-life challenges to the DuPage County Board.

As a two-term District 99 school board member, I oversee an annual budget of over $120 million, make tough financial decisions and balance fiscal responsibility while maintaining critical services. Having relied on county services myself, I understand how policies affect residents and can advocate for solutions that work.

My experience working in the Illinois Senate President’s office and longstanding relationships with county leaders allow me to navigate government effectively and hit the ground running on day one.

At a time when residents face rising costs, housing insecurity and growing demands on services, my perspective is needed to ensure decisions reflect real community needs. I will bring a results-oriented approach, amplify the voices of those too often overlooked and have the answers to the questions other board members don’t even know to ask.

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

While the Crisis Recovery Center in Wheaton provides essential 24/7 mental health support, access remains limited for residents in other parts of DuPage County.

I support expanding satellite mental health service locations in underserved areas to provide crisis screening, short-term stabilization and connections to ongoing care. These centers would collaborate with the Crisis Recovery Center, mobile crisis teams, and township 708 mental health boards to coordinate services and reduce gaps in care.

This could be funded through ongoing federal and state behavioral health grants, allocations within the county budget and local 708 board resources. By leveraging existing programs and partnerships, we can expand access to mental health care, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and ensure residents across DuPage County can get timely support when they need it most.

With the county’s budget being squeezed by federal funding cuts and other factors, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

With the county’s budget being squeezed by federal funding cuts and other factors, I would support initiatives to both increase revenue and save money.

On the revenue side, I would promote economic development that drives sales and use taxes, explore modest fee adjustments for services that reflect actual costs, and advocate for fair state revenue sharing, including Local Government Distributive Fund distributions.

On the savings side, I would conduct regular audits of existing funding models and program performance to identify redundancies and improve efficiency, and consider delaying nonessential capital improvements to prioritize critical services and investments.

What is the single most important issue facing your district, and how should the county address it?

The most important issue in our district is affordability. Rising housing costs, utility bills and transportation expenses are putting pressure on families, seniors and young people.

The county can address this by expanding housing programs for low- and moderate-income households, leveraging federal and state housing grants, and supporting policies that maintain housing stability. Improving public transit and infrastructure can reduce commuting costs and expand access to jobs.

Funding human services, food programs and mental health services ensures residents can meet basic needs. Supporting small businesses and workforce development creates local jobs and income opportunities, helping residents keep pace with the cost of living while strengthening the county’s economy. By taking these steps, the county can build a sustainable community where residents can thrive.

Why are you the best person to serve in this role?

I am the best person to serve in this role because I bring a perspective that is entirely unique on the DuPage County Board.

I have experienced homelessness, relied on county services and faced firsthand the struggles that many residents are still living through today. That experience gives me an understanding of affordability, access to services, and the real-life consequences of policy decisions in a way no other member can.

We desperately need more elected officials who have lived through the issues we are trying to solve. My experience allows me to see gaps in services, ask the questions other board members do not think to ask, and advocate for solutions that actually work for residents.

Combined with my two terms on the District 99 school board, where I’ve overseen multimillion-dollar budgets and balanced tough financial decisions, and my work in the Illinois Senate President’s office, I can bring both practical expertise and a lived perspective to every decision.

This combination is invaluable in creating policies that are both effective and truly responsive to the people they serve.