Melissa Villanueva: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Board District 1 (2-year term)

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County Board District 1, 2-year term

City: Elmhurst

Age: 37

Occupation: Small Business Owner, Brewpoint Coffee

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

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

Affordability is the defining challenge for residents of DuPage County. I am running for the DuPage County Board because, as a small-business owner, I see how hard it is for families to make ends meet. It has become increasingly difficult for the next generation to attain homeownership and for seniors to afford to stay in the communities where they raised their children.

The way we steward taxpayer dollars is critical; fiscal responsibility must be paired with a vision for an accessible community. My focus is on creating a sustainable ecosystem where living and working in DuPage is a reality for everyone. This means creating pathways between education and local careers, expanding attainable-housing programs like first-time homebuyer incentives, and improving “last-mile” transit to connect workers to their jobs. I am running because I have both the passion and the professional experience to build a DuPage that is thriving and affordable.

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 will contribute to the board by bringing the perspective of a small-business owner and economic development professional who prioritizes a pragmatic and people-centered approach. I believe we can protect our most vulnerable neighbors without raising property taxes. As an Elmhurst Economic Development Commissioner, I know that local businesses are the heartbeat of our economy. Sales tax accounts for 57% of the county’s budget, so supporting our entrepreneurs is the smartest way to generate the revenue needed to sustain vital social services like mental health resources and community food programs.

We must strengthen the Community Sustainability Fund, which serves as a critical local safety net when federal or state support wavers. Additionally, I’ll advocate for a revolving fund that partners with developers — trading incentives for firm commitments to affordable and sustainable building. This ensures that new growth actually benefits our residents and pays for itself over time.

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

The most critical gap in DuPage County today is attainable housing for our “missing middle,” those who are the backbone of our economy but are increasingly priced out of our neighborhoods. When our workforce can’t afford to live near their jobs, it strains our transit systems and weakens our local economy. I propose addressing this challenge by tying financial incentives for developers to sustainability and affordability goals. One idea is using the county’s financial strength to provide low-interest bridge financing to responsible developers.

This fund works as a self-sustaining cycle of reinvestment. Once a developer completes a project and secures permanent financing, the initial capital returns to the county with interest, allowing us to fund the next project and keep the momentum going. In exchange for this lower-cost capital, we require developers to commit to long-term affordability goals and high energy-efficiency standards that lower monthly utility bills for residents. By prioritizing these developments near public transit, we create a more equitable and connected county. This approach ensures the next generation can afford to build their lives right here in DuPage.

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?

To increase revenue, I support making DuPage the premier destination for high-value, future-proof industries like Life Sciences and Clean-Tech. By expanding our green building incentives, such as faster permitting and fee reductions for sustainable construction, we attract companies that provide high-paying careers and a robust commercial tax base. This strategy allows us to generate the revenue necessary to fund our community’s essential services while maintaining the fiscal discipline that keeps residential property taxes stable. With this, we ensure that our county remains self-reliant, even when federal funding becomes unpredictable.

To save money long-term, we must shift from reactive spending to proactive cost prevention. By aligning workforce development, attainable housing and reliable transit, we are making an investment that reduces the future strain on our social service and emergency budgets. When our neighbors have stable homes and can easily get to local jobs, they are less likely to need crisis-level support.

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

The most critical issue facing our district is affordability, and we cannot address it without fixing transportation. For many families, transportation is the second largest expense after housing, yet our current system often leaves residents without a car stranded. We have a historic opportunity to change this through the $1.5 billion transition to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). While the County Board Chair chooses our representative for the NITA board, it is vital that we advocate for an appointee who is a true expert in public transportation. We must build strong coalitions with our collar-county neighbors to ensure the suburbs are prioritized and that we secure our fair share of funding to fix “last-mile” transit gaps. When we do our job right and these transit gaps are fixed, our community can go from their homes to their schools, to places of work, and to get their health care and essentials in less than hour. Giving them more time to spend with family and reducing their overall costs of transportation.

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

I am not a career politician; I am a community advocate. Eleven years ago, I bought a coffee shop off Craigslist and grew it into a company that’s one of the fastest-growing small businesses in the nation. This journey taught me how to manage a strategic budget, lead a diverse team and stay resilient under pressure. These skills are vital for effective governance. Through my work as an Economic Development Commissioner and as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence in DuPage, I have mentored local entrepreneurs to help them scale and access $1M in grants to make their dreams a reality.

My track record is both tested and proven. I have earned the endorsement of the County Board Chair and a broad coalition of local leaders because they know I am a bridge-builder who prioritizes people over ideology. I stand firm in my convictions, and I am dedicated to serving every resident of District 1, regardless of their political background. I bring a unique blend of entrepreneurship and economic development experience that allows me to look at the county budget with a fresh, pragmatic perspective. My goal is to build a DuPage that is thriving, fiscally responsible and affordable for everyone.