Mahnoor Ahmad: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Board District 2 (2-year term)

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: DuPage County Board District 2 (2-year term)

City: Oakbrook Terrace

Age: 34

Occupation: Public health director

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

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

I’m running because too many DuPage families are being priced out of the communities they built. Housing has become unaffordable, grocery costs keep rising, and working people feel the pressure every month while county decisions feel distant from their daily reality.

I’ve spent my career inside public systems making them work better, managing complex budgets, strengthening oversight and ensuring public dollars are spent responsibly. I’ve seen how short-term decisions quietly drive up long-term costs for taxpayers, and how disciplined planning can keep communities stable and affordable.

The issue that motivates me most is affordability rooted in accountability. County government has real influence over land use, housing investment and the cost structures families live with every day.

I’m running to bring competence, transparency and long-term fiscal responsibility to those decisions, so families can afford to stay here and trust that their county government is working for them.

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.

As a non-incumbent, I would contribute to the county board by bringing real executive and operational experience to a body that makes high-impact financial decisions. I have led large public health and health care systems with full budget responsibility, managed complex contracts and audits, and implemented reforms that saved tens of millions of dollars while improving outcomes.

That experience matters at the county level, where small decisions can create long-term costs for taxpayers if they are not rigorously evaluated. On the board, I would focus on strengthening oversight of contracts, capital projects and vendor performance, ensuring decisions are guided by data and long-term planning rather than short-term pressure.

I would work to align housing, public health and human services with affordability goals so county investments actually reduce cost burdens for residents. Above all, I would bring a governing mindset rooted in accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline, with a clear focus on making county government function better for the people who pay for it.

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

DuPage lacks enough workforce-affordable housing so teachers, nurses, first responders and young families can live here. One analysis citing an IDHA report notes only 6.6% of DuPage’s housing stock is considered affordable.

I would make housing supply a county priority by using existing federal tools the county already administers (Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Services Grant) to fund housing navigation, rental assistance and supportive housing, while partnering with municipalities and nonprofits to unlock more units. Funding comes from reprioritizing county spending toward programs with measurable outcomes and fully leveraging state and federal dollars.

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 federal funding becoming less reliable, the county must focus on disciplined stewardship rather than shifting costs onto residents. I would prioritize initiatives that generate recurring savings and stable revenue without raising property taxes.

First, I would strengthen contract oversight and procurement discipline so the county consistently gets best value for taxpayer dollars. Clear performance standards, competitive bidding and strong audit follow-through can produce meaningful, ongoing savings.

Second, I would support performance-based budgeting that ties funding to outcomes. Programs should be regularly evaluated, redesigned if they fall short, or consolidated where duplication exists, so limited dollars are spent where they work.

Third, I would emphasize cost avoidance through long-term planning, including energy efficiency in county facilities, shared services, and smarter capital planning that reduces maintenance and emergency costs.

Finally, I would push to fully leverage available state and federal grants, fee-based services and partnerships, while avoiding new ongoing obligations funded by one-time dollars.

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

The single most important issue facing my district is affordability. Families who work here can no longer afford to buy a home, stay in their neighborhoods, or keep up with everyday costs like groceries and utilities.

When people are priced out, communities lose stability, employers lose workers and long-term costs rise for everyone. The county must treat affordability as a core economic issue, not a side program.

That starts with using county tools more strategically by aligning land use, housing investments and incentives to produce real workforce housing, not just high-end development.

County-owned land and public dollars should be leveraged to lower costs and expand supply, with clear accountability and measurable outcomes. At the same time, the county should strengthen food access and public health supports that reduce cost pressures on families and prevent higher downstream spending.

Addressing affordability requires disciplined planning, transparency, and long-term thinking so residents can afford to stay in the communities they built and trust that county government is working in their interest.

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

I’m the best person to serve in this role because I know how to make government work when it matters. I have led complex public systems, managed large budgets, and delivered reforms that saved tens of millions of dollars while improving services for the people who depend on them.

I understand that every line item represents a family, a worker or a neighbor and that stewardship is a moral responsibility, not just a technical one. I bring a calm, disciplined approach to governing. I ask hard questions, rely on data and focus on long-term consequences rather than short-term politics.

I believe public service is about trust — earning it through competence, transparency and results. At a moment when families are being squeezed by rising costs and uncertainty, the county board needs steady leadership that can balance compassion with fiscal responsibility. I am running to bring that leadership to DuPage County and to ensure our government works for the people who rely on it every day.