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

Bio

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

Party: Democrat

City: Elmhurst

Age: 38

Previous offices held: N/A

Q&A

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

I'm running for local office because our world is changing quickly, and elected offices, including the DuPage county board should be planning for that change. Our district includes some of the county's largest employment centers in Addison, Bensenville, Wood Dale, and Itasca, and the people who work there are feeling rising housing costs, long commutes, and shifts in the kinds of jobs available. I have led through disruption before. In early 2020, before pandemic closures were ordered, my team at Brewpoint Coffee already had a plan in place. We did not have to lay off any employees, and we continued to serve our community safely without major disruption. We made those decisions with input from staff and customers and publicly documented each one to form a stronger connection between ourselves and the larger community. I want to bring that same approach to the county, which looks like staying on top of the major issues ahead, gathering real data, listening to the people affected, and acting early. My focus will be keeping good jobs in DuPage, making it more affordable to live here, and connecting people to work through last mile investments.

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?

My priority is making sure DuPage families can afford to live here while the county maintains and improves the services they count on: safe roads, flood protection, mental health care, and food and housing assistance. More than half of the county's general fund revenue comes from taxes generated by local businesses, so a strong local economy is how we pay for those services without raising property taxes. That is where my experience helps. I have served on Elmhurst's Economic Development Commission for eight years, and also as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Innovation DuPage where I helped entrepreneurs secure nearly $1 million in grants and connected more than 1,000 business owners to government, for profit, and non-profit resources. Since 2019, I have hosted Makers & Shakers, an entrepreneurial event experience, which draws hundreds of business owners each year. Recruiting, retaining, and expanding the success of our local businesses gives us the financial strength to reinvest where our community needs it the most. So when the county runs a surplus, I would direct it to the Community Sustainability Fund so residents have a strong safety net for whatever comes next.

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

I would focus on the costs families feel every month. The county's portion is about 2 percent of the average homeowner's property tax bill, and I will keep that rate flat. First, help residents claim the exemptions they already qualify for. Many seniors and homeowners miss the senior freeze or homestead exemption because they didn't know it existed, and increasing outreach through township offices, libraries and senior centers costs little. Second, protect homes along high flood zone areas with stormwater projects paid for in part by state and federal grants, grants which I have spent years helping small business owners win. Fewer floods mean fewer repair bills and can lower flood insurance costs. Third, use the Community Sustainability Fund to reach more families with first-time homebuyer, food, and utility assistance, and report how many households it helps. On savings, my instinct as a business owner is to review and improve the process before funding it. I would review the county's recurring contracts before they renew, expand joint purchasing with townships and municipalities, and use utility rebates to pay for energy upgrades that cut operating costs.

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 does not have a single, coordinated starting point for brick-and-mortar small businesses, and residents feel that in empty storefronts and in local shops that leave the county when they outgrow their space. Innovation DuPage, the Small Business Development Centers, Choose DuPage, and municipal offices all do great work, but they could be connected and more accessible. I would propose a county-backed small-business hub with one website where an owner enters their information once and is referred to the right partner for financing, permits, grants, or mentorship. For a business ready to expand, it would show each town's incentives, current vacancies, and demographics, so a successful shop in Elmhurst can potentially grow in Roselle instead of leaving DuPage. That keeps jobs close to home and our downtowns full. It would report how many owners were served and secured funding. This would be a minimal lift and could be expanded upon to further invest in our small businesses.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Residents should expect the board to work together on their amenities, whether it be roads, flood control, public health, or transit, regardless of who proposed an idea. What matters most is the impact for our residents, and I will work with any board member, Republican or Democrat, on a sound proposal. For more than a decade I have led a team of about 30 people at my small business, and I have learned that disagreement is normal and becomes a problem only when no one addresses it. We hold quarterly team-building sessions, talk through friction early, and turn honest feedback into action plans. On the board, this looks like kindly and directly addressing conflict, doing my due diligence to present my argument based on facts and data, and keeping the discussion focused on outcomes for residents. I will hold to my values, and I will also listen and change my position if a colleague makes a better case.

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

I think the current pay is about right. It should be enough that people from all economic backgrounds can serve, not only those who can afford to work without an income. I would not vote myself a raise, and under Illinois' constitution I could not, because a pay change cannot take effect during a member's current term. What I would support is a predictable cost-of-living adjustment, tied to inflation and capped at 3 percent, published in advance and applied to each seat as its term begins. That way pay never sits still for years and then jumps. I would also post board pay and benefits on the county website so residents can see exactly what they are paying for.

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

Economic instability. Costs are steadily increasing at a time when AI and automation are threatening job security across many industries. District 1 is a workforce center for DuPage, with a high level of logistics, manufacturing, retail, and clerical work. My focus is protecting those livelihoods. WorkNet DuPage offers training grants of up to $10,000, but they mostly reach people after a layoff. I would expand that program to collaborate directly with employers, to find those roles that are becoming redundant and train workers for the next phase of their careers. This can also be done using College of DuPage apprenticeships. I would also prioritize job quantity and quality as business recruitment incentives for new employers, rather than just revenue. When the pandemic hit, I rebuilt my business around new technology in a matter of weeks and prioritized no layoffs. The next big economic shift is already underway and will change the entire employment landscape in ways we are just beginning to understand. DuPage needs leaders who are ready to face this challenge and protect our future.