Dana Moreau: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Forest Preserve Board District 2

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner District 2

City: Lombard

Age: 54

Occupation: Healthcare Tech & Education Leader & small business owner

Previous offices held: Trustee, Village of Lombard

Q&A

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I’m running for this office because for a long time we assumed public land was protected forever. Recent events have shown that assumption isn’t always true.

My professional work in tech, finance and specifically healthcare has shaped how I think about the systems people rely on. When stakes are high, good intentions are nice but in my experience, seldom enough. You have to plan ahead, anticipate possible risk and build real (vs perceived) safeguards that hold over time. I bring that same mindset to forest preserve governance.

The issue that motivates me most is permanent protection. Our forest preserves should remain wild, public, and free (accessible) from gradual erosion, commercialization or short-term decision-making. We owe it to future generations to think far beyond our own time on the board.

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 bring a broad, systems-level perspective that reflects how this role actually functions. The forest preserve board isn’t just about environmental management. It’s about governance, land protection, finance, partnerships and long-term risk.

My background spans healthcare, highly regulated financial institutions, nonprofit initiatives, small business ownership and public service. I’ve served as a Lombard Trustee, giving me firsthand experience with public governance, fiduciary responsibility, long-term decision-making and more. I’ve also worked on initiatives at the intersection of technology, policy, and public impact, which shaped how I think about unintended consequences.

I bring a willingness to ask MANY hard questions, think beyond election cycles, work with strategic partners and ultimately, know when to say “no.” That 360-degree view paired with independence and judgment is what I will contribute to the board. And I do the work with energy, good humor and respect for the employees and people around the table.

What are the forest preserve district’s open space needs, and how should it address them?

DuPage County’s open space needs are both protective and strategic. We should continue acquiring land and yet, not to expand just for expansion’s sake (we're already one of the largest land holders in DuPage), but to protect the preserves we already have from emerging threats like incompatible development.

Forest preserves don’t have walls. Many of us are old enough to remember smoking sections in restaurants. Well-intentioned, but nobody ever trained the smoke to stay put. Environmental impacts work the same way. What happens next to a preserve affects water, wildlife and how the land functions in preserves.

That’s why acquiring buffer land matters. It helps prevent damage before it starts. At the same time, we need strong stewardship of existing preserves through continued restoration and long-term planning. Open space planning should be about thoughtfully keeping land resilient, healthy and intact.

What role should the forest preserve play in preserving historic buildings on its land?

Historic preservation is important, and I say that as someone with experience here. I fought to protect the DuPage Theatre, own a business in a plaque-designated historic building, have worked with historic preservation commissions and have lived in a historic district. I understand both the value of preservation and the responsibility it carries.

The forest preserve district should preserve historic buildings thoughtfully but realistically, with conservation as the starting point. Recent discussions around Oak Cottage and the previous discussions regarding the McKee House show how difficult these decisions can be when buildings have been neglected for decades and rehab costs are high. The answer can’t always be “tear it down!,” but it also can’t be “save it at any cost!”

Preservation must support education, interpretation and public access, all without driving increased traffic, infrastructure or commercial use that doesn’t belong in a forest preserve. Our lands have to set the limits. But we are the Lorax, speaking on their behalf. Done right, historic preservation adds meaning and context. Done poorly, it risks both our history and our natural spaces.

Describe your position regarding the state of the forest preserve district's budget. What chief threats do you see looming in the future, and how should the district handle them?

The forest preserve district is in a strong financial position, especially after voters approved the recent referendum to invest more in land protection, restoration and infrastructure. That vote reduced financial pressure on the district which matters, because financial stress is often what leads to decisions that compromise public land.

My background includes managing $16 billion in deposits for highly regulated global banks, as well as running initiatives for small nonprofits and small businesses where margins and budgets are tight. Across all of it, the lesson is the same: strong funding creates responsibility, not complacency.

The real threats aren’t immediate insolvency, but deferred maintenance, climate impacts, and decisions that create long-term ecological costs. Using referendum funds proactively — for restoration, resilience, and maintenance — protects the land’s integrity and reduces future pressure to monetize or overuse preserves. Financial independence is one of the strongest safeguards we have for keeping these lands protected for generations.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to make the forest preserve district more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome obstacles to initiating it.

Let me give you two.

First, I would work to formalize permanent protections for forest preserve land. DuPage already has strong policies and uses tools like conservation easements, but policies can be changed. I would support adding more durable legal guardrails such as expanded easements with land trusts or state partners, deed restrictions and intergovernmental agreements so future boards cannot quietly sell, lease nor materially change land use. The goal is to lock in today’s mission for generations. This work is largely legal and partnership-based and can be done within existing resources.

Second, I would formalize health-focused partnerships that recognize forest preserves as essential infrastructure for physical and mental health in an increasingly unhealthy, high-stress world. More people are turning to our preserves because they need places to decompress and breathe. I support partnerships where healthcare providers can encourage time in nature alongside traditional treatments, prescribing a walk as readily as a pill. These efforts can be grant-funded and carefully designed to expand access without ever commercializing our preserves.