Yeena Yoo: 2026 candidate for DuPage County treasurer

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County treasurer

Party: Democrat

City: Elmhurst

Age: 47

Previous offices held: DuPage County Board Member, District 2

Q&A

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

Government should be efficient, transparent, and accessible. Public offices should continually improve how they serve residents. I’m running for Treasurer because the Office needs new leadership to modernize its operations and improve taxpayer services.

The Office transitioned to a new property tax administration system in 2022 but, four years later, ongoing technical issues remain unresolved. There is also significant room to expand digital services. In 2026, 330,773 property tax bills were sent, but only 9,000 tax bills or 2.7% were emailed. The Office needs to modernize its operations by reducing reliance on paper, printing, and postage, saving taxpayer dollars while expanding convenient digital services and payment options for residents.

As a DuPage County Board member and former Technology Committee Chair, I worked closely with County IT on cybersecurity, staff training, and responsible AI use. I’ll bring that experience and partnership to the Treasurer’s Office to streamline processes and expand online services. The Office must keep pace with modern expectations, and I have the experience, vision, and determination to lead that change.

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 position and what would your priority be?

Modernizing technology and expanding online services will make the Treasurer’s Office more convenient and responsive to taxpayers. With my experience as Technology Committee Chair, I've seen firsthand the importance of the County IT Department, and together we’ll work to make online services more intuitive and user-friendly.

But technology alone cannot solve this issue. Expanded adoption of new services also depends on proactive communication and outreach. Taxpayers deserve clear, plain-language information about where their dollars are going, what resources are available, and why deadlines matter.

I'm committed to making communication with taxpayers a priority. I’ll establish a regular e-newsletter to provide updates, explain key financial decisions and invite resident feedback. I’ll also take the Office “beyond the counter” by attending community events and partnering with townships, local governments, and civic organizations to connect and answer questions directly. By meeting residents where they are, we can build confidence in electronic systems, increase use of online services, and ensure residents, especially seniors, know about Treasurer programs such as tax deferral.

What special qualifications does a county treasurer need that may not apply to other county offices? What professional qualifications or experiences do you possess that will help ensure your success as treasurer?

The Treasurer’s Office works within a complex legal and regulatory framework, with the Treasurer responsible for safeguarding, managing, and investing public funds under Illinois law. As a litigation attorney, I’m trained to interpret laws, identify legal risks, and understand contracts and obligations. The Office already has excellent financial staff; the Treasurer’s role is to provide leadership and accountability. The Treasurer must also adapt to a changing legal landscape, as court decisions such as Tyler v. Hennepin and new state laws affect the property tax system and the Office’s duties.

My county government experience has reinforced the value of critical thinking and informed decision-making. As Treasurer, I’ll bring that disciplined approach to working with financial professionals, investment advisers, technology vendors, and County staff. I’ll oversee investments with a focus on managing risk, adapting to market conditions, preserving principal, maintaining liquidity, and pursuing strong returns within statutory limits.

My career and public service have prepared me to be the Treasurer taxpayers deserve: a thoughtful, engaged leader with fresh eyes for the office.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

One concrete initiative at the top of my list will be a comprehensive redesign of the Treasurer’s Office website to make it a more useful, accessible, and user-friendly resource for taxpayers. The current site should be reassessed and benchmarked against other county treasurer websites and established best practices. Working with County IT, I’ll streamline navigation, make information easier to find, and expand the services taxpayers can complete online. Because County IT already provides website support to the Treasurer’s Office, these enhancements can be accomplished without a significant increase to the budget or disruption to existing services.

More broadly, I’ll use technology to automate routine processes, improve efficiency, and free staff to focus on what matters most: serving taxpayers. My goal is a Treasurer’s Office that is more efficient, responsive, and better equipped to meet the needs of DuPage County residents today and in the future.